Vehicular telematic systems and methods for generating interactive animated guided user interfaces

ABSTRACT

Telematics systems and methods are described for generating interactive animated guided user interfaces (GUIs). A telematics cloud platform is configured to receive vehicular telematics data from a telematics device onboard a vehicle. A GUI value compression component determines, based on the vehicular telematics data, a plurality of GUI position values and a plurality of corresponding GUI time values. A geospatial animation app receives the plurality of GUI position values and the plurality of corresponding GUI time values. The geospatial animation app implements an interactive animated GUI that renders a plurality of geospatial graphics or graphical routes on a geographic area map via a display device. The geospatial graphics or graphical routes are rendered to have different visual forms based on differences between respective GUI position values and corresponding GUI time values.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to vehicular telematics systemsand methods, and more particularly to vehicular telematics systems andmethods for generating interactive animated guided user interfaces(GUIs).

BACKGROUND

Telematics information regarding operation of a vehicle may generally becollected for vehicle trips. Such telematics information, however, istypically collected at high volume or high fidelity rates that caninclude the generation and collection of large numbers of records, suchas tens of thousands of telematics records. Such high volume and/or highfidelity telematics records can be generated even for short vehicletrips. In addition, a vehicle trip, that may include tens of thousandsof records, generally results in the generation of large file sizes.Such large file sizes are typically impractical for transfer or viewing,especially via mobile devices that have limited computing and memoryresources.

Because of the large numbers of telemetry records typically produced inconventional telemetry, a given user's raw vehicle trip telemetry datais generally complicated and unintelligible. For example, users areunable to understand past driving patterns or behavior from the largenumbers of telemetry records. This is because a user may be required tonot only scroll through the large number of records, but also understandpatterns in the telemetry data, which is especially difficult on smallscreens of modern mobile devices. For example, even though users havelarge amounts of telemetry records for review, users are still unable toidentifying risks, where such risks may include important informationincluding the identification of high accident prone areas or othertraffic, vehicle, and/or geographic-related risks. In addition, for thesame reasons, users do not have a convenient way to develop anunderstanding of where they drive over time. Moreover, commonsimplifications, such as scoring a user's telemetry data, often comeacross to the user as confrontational.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for telematics systems andmethods for generating interactive animated guided user interfaces(GUIs) operable to provide scrubbed playback rendering of geospatialgraphics.

In addition, there is a need for telematics systems and methods forgenerating interactive animated guided user interfaces (GUIs) operableto provide rapid playback of multiple vehicular trips.

Still further, there is a need for telematics systems and methods forgenerating interactive animated guided user interfaces (GUIs) operableto provide geographic heat maps of multiple vehicular trips.

SUMMARY

The disclosure of the present applications provides solutions toovercome the high volume and/or high fidelity rates typically involvedwith the generation and/or collection of vehicular telemetry data, whichcan include the generation and collection of large numbers of telemetryrecords. As described herein, embodiments of the present disclosureallow a user to compress high fidelity telemetry data via display of avehicle trip as an interactive, animated movie that synchronizesgraphical forms (e.g., geospatial graphics and/or graphical routes) oftelemetry information with GUI position values and GUI time values on anelectronic geographic area map. Such geospatial graphics and geographicarea maps allow a user, via an interactive animated GUI, to explore thegeographic area map as well as scrub the playback rendering via thegeographic area map and/or timeline so as to represent how the user'stelemetry data changed during a vehicular trip of the user.

In particular, in various embodiments disclosed herein, vehiculartelematics systems and methods are disclosed for generating interactiveanimated guided user interfaces (GUIs). In some embodiments, theinteractive GUIs are operable to provide scrubbed playback rendering ofgeospatial graphics. The vehicular telematics systems and methodsgenerally comprise a telematics cloud platform configured to receivevehicular telematics data from a telematics device onboard a vehicle. Insuch embodiments, each of the vehicular telematics data may include ageographic position of the telematics device and a time value of thegeographic position. The vehicular telematics data may define avehicular trip of a vehicle. In addition, the vehicular telematics datamay define a telematics dataset having a first data size.

The vehicular telematics systems and methods may further comprise a GUIvalue compression component implemented at the telematics cloudplatform. The GUI value compression component is generally configured todetermine, based on the geographic positions and the time values of thevehicular telematics data, a plurality of GUI position values and aplurality of corresponding GUI time values. The plurality of GUIposition values and the plurality of corresponding GUI time values maydefine a GUI value dataset having a second data size. The second datasize may have a reduced size compared to the first data size. In severalembodiments, the plurality of GUI position values and the plurality ofcorresponding GUI time values include at least (1) a first GUI positionvalue and a first GUI time value, and (2) a second GUI position valueand a second GUI time value.

The vehicular telematics systems and methods may further comprise ageospatial animation app configured to implement an interactive animatedGUI on a display device (e.g., mobile device). The interactive animatedGUI may be configured to receive the plurality of GUI position valuesand the plurality of corresponding GUI time values from the telematicscloud platform. The interactive animated GUI may further be configuredto render a plurality of geospatial graphics on a geographic area mapvia the display device. In such embodiments, each geospatial graphiccorresponds to a GUI position value of the plurality of GUI positionvalues. In addition, each geospatial graphic is rendered at a GUI timevalue corresponding to the GUI position value.

In embodiments where an interactive animated GUI is configured toprovide scrubbed playback rendering of geospatial graphics, theinteractive animated GUI may render the plurality of geospatial graphicsin a chronological order. In such embodiments, a first geospatialgraphic may be displayed on the geographic area map at the first GUIposition value at the first GUI time value. In addition, a secondgeospatial graphic may be displayed on the geographic area map at thesecond GUI position value at the second GUI time value. The firstgeospatial graphic may be rendered to have a first graphical form, andthe second geospatial graphic rendered to have a second graphical form.In such embodiments, the first graphic form may be rendered to visuallydiffer from the second graphical form. The visual difference may bebased on differences of the first GUI position value or the first GUIposition time value compared with the second GUI position value or thesecond GUI position time value.

Further, in embodiments where an interactive animated GUI is configuredto provide scrubbed playback rendering of geospatial graphics, the actof the interactive animated GUI rendering the plurality of geospatialgraphics in the chronologic order on the geographic area map generallydefines an animated graphical representation of the vehicular trip. Insuch embodiments, the interactive animated GUI is operable to providescrubbed playback rendering of the geospatial graphics via userinteraction with the geographic area map.

In additional embodiments, the disclosure of the present applicationsprovides solutions to compress high fidelity telemetry data intoshort-form recap experience(s) defining a plurality of vehicle trips ofa vehicle that occurred during a defined time period (e.g., a month).The recap experience may include an interactive, animated vehicular tripend-to-end experience that includes all trips that a user has drivenduring the defined period. Such trips may define an animated graphicalrepresentation of each of the plurality of vehicle trips, which can bedisplayed over shorter time duration than an original time duration ofthe trip. In addition, such trips may be displayed with a timeline thatcan be scrubbed to provide a user with an option to explore previoustime periods (e.g., a previous month) of driving.

In particular, in various embodiments disclosed herein, vehiculartelematics systems and methods are disclosed for generating interactiveanimated GUIs operable to provide rapid playback of multiple vehiculartrips. Such vehicular telematics systems and methods may include atelematics cloud platform configured to receive vehicular telematicsdata from a telematics device onboard a vehicle. Each of the vehiculartelematics data may include a geographic position of the telematicsdevice and a time value of the geographic position. In addition, thevehicular telematics data may define a plurality of vehicle trips of avehicle that occurred during a defined time period (e.g., a month) for afirst time duration. Still further, the vehicular telematics data maydefine a telematics dataset having a first data size.

Vehicular telematics systems and methods regarding rapid playback mayfurther include a GUI value compression component implemented at thetelematics cloud platform. The GUI value compression component may beconfigured to determine, based on the geographic positions and the timevalues of the vehicular telematics data, a plurality of GUI positionvalues and a plurality of corresponding GUI time values. The pluralityof GUI position values and the plurality of corresponding GUI timevalues may define a GUI value dataset having a second data size. In suchembodiments, the second data size may have a reduced size compared tothe first data size. In some embodiments, the plurality of GUI positionvalues and the plurality of corresponding GUI time values may include atleast (1) a first GUI position value and a first GUI time value, and (2)a second GUI position value and a second GUI time value.

Vehicular telematics systems and methods regarding rapid playback mayfurther include a geospatial animation app configured to implement aninteractive animated GUI on a display device. The geospatial animationapp and/or interactive animated GUI may receive the plurality of GUIposition values and the plurality of corresponding GUI time values. Inaddition, the geospatial animation app and/or interactive animated GUImay render a plurality of geospatial graphics on a geographic area mapvia the display device. In such embodiments, each geospatial graphic maycorrespond to a GUI position value of the plurality of GUI positionvalues, and each geospatial graphic rendered at a GUI time valuecorresponding to the GUI position value.

Further, in embodiments where an interactive animated GUI is configuredto provide rapid playback of multiple vehicular trips, the interactiveanimated GUI may render the plurality of geospatial graphics in achronological order. In such embodiments, a first geospatial graphic maybe displayed on the geographic area map at the first GUI position valueat the first GUI time value. In addition, a second geospatial graphicmay be displayed on the geographic area map at the second GUI positionvalue at the second GUI time value. In such embodiments, the firstgeospatial graphic may be rendered to have a first graphical form, andthe second geospatial graphic may be rendered to have a second graphicalform. Generally, the first graphic form is rendered to visually differfrom the second graphical form based on differences of the first GUIposition value or the first GUI position time value compared with thesecond GUI position value or the second GUI position time value.

Additionally, in embodiments where an interactive animated GUI isconfigured to provide rapid playback of multiple vehicular trips, theact of the interactive animated GUI rendering the plurality ofgeospatial graphics in a chronologic order on the geographic area mapmay define an animated graphical representation of each of the pluralityof vehicle trips. The animated graphical representation is displayedover a second time duration that is shorter in duration than the firsttime duration.

In additional embodiments, the disclosure of the present applicationsprovides solutions to compress high fidelity telemetry data into ageographic heat map defining multiple vehicular trips. In suchembodiments, a user's past trips may be compiled into a heat map thathighlights the frequency of travel of certain routes and/or areas. Stillfurther, accident data and other risk factors can be overlaid on theheat map to visually communicate different segments of risk to a user.

In particular, in various embodiments disclosed herein, vehiculartelematics systems and methods are disclosed for generating interactiveanimated GUIs operable to provide geographic heat maps of multiplevehicular trips. In such embodiments, a telematics cloud platform isconfigured to receive vehicular telematics data from a telematics deviceonboard a vehicle. Each of the vehicular telematics data may include ageographic position of the telematics device and a time value of thegeographic position. In addition, the vehicular telematics data maydefine a plurality of vehicle trips of a vehicle navigating actualroutes within a certain geographic area. The vehicular telematics datamay define a telematics dataset having a first data size.

Vehicular telematics systems and methods regarding geographic heat mapsmay further include a GUI value compression component implemented at thetelematics cloud platform. The GUI value compression component may beconfigured to determine, based on the geographic positions and the timevalues of the vehicular telematics data, a plurality of GUI positionvalues and a plurality of corresponding GUI time values. In suchembodiments, the plurality of GUI position values and the plurality ofcorresponding GUI time values may define a GUI value dataset having asecond data size. The second data size may have a reduced size comparedto the first data size. In some embodiments, the plurality of GUIposition values and a plurality of corresponding GUI time values mayinclude at least (1) a first set of GUI position values and a first setof corresponding GUI time values, and (2) a second set of GUI positionvalues and a second set of corresponding GUI time values.

Vehicular telematics systems and methods regarding geographic heat mapsmay further include a geospatial animation app configured to implementan interactive animated GUI on a display device. In such embodiments,the geospatial animation app and/or interactive animated GUI may beconfigured to receive the plurality of GUI position values and theplurality of corresponding GUI time values. In addition, the geospatialanimation app and/or interactive animated GUI may be configured torender a plurality of graphical routes on a geographic area map via thedisplay device. In such embodiments, each of the graphical routes may berendered with a weight or a color determined from the plurality of GUIposition values and the plurality of corresponding GUI time values. Theweight or the color of each graphical route may visually represent aquantity of the plurality of GUI position values and the plurality ofcorresponding GUI time values as associated with the graphical route.

Still further, in embodiments where an interactive animated GUI isconfigured to provide geographic heat maps of multiple vehicular trips,a first graphical route may be displayed on the geographic area maprepresentative of the first set of GUI position values and the first setof corresponding GUI time values. In addition, a second graphical routemay be displayed on the geographic area map representative of the secondset of GUI position values and the second set of corresponding GUI timevalues. In such embodiments, the first graphical route may be renderedto have a first weight or a first color, and the second graphical routerendered to have a second weight or a second color. Additionally, oralternatively, the first weight or the first color may be rendered tovisually differ from the second weight or the second color. Such visualdifference may be based on the differences of a first quantity of GUIvalues of the first set of GUI position values and the first set ofcorresponding GUI time values compared with a second quantity of GUIvalues of the second set of GUI position values and the second set ofcorresponding GUI time values.

Still further, in embodiments where an interactive animated GUI isconfigured to provide geographic heat maps of multiple vehicular trips,the act of an interactive animated GUI rendering the plurality ofgraphical routes on the geographic area map may define a geographic heatmap representation of each of the plurality of vehicle trips. In suchembodiments, the geographic heat map representation may visuallyrepresent a frequency of travel of the actual routes within thegeographic area.

In accordance with the above, and with the disclosure herein, thepresent disclosure includes improvements in computer functionality or inimprovements to other technologies at least because the claims recite,e.g., telematics systems and methods that generate interactive animatedguided user interfaces (GUIs) to provide scrubbed playback rendering ofgeospatial graphics, rapid playback of multiple vehicular trips, andgeographic heat maps of multiple vehicular trips. That is, the presentdisclosure describes improvements in the functioning of the computeritself or “any other technology or technical field” because the field ofvehicular telematics, and related computing devices thereof, areimproved with animated guided user interfaces (GUIs) to visualize largequantities of otherwise unintelligible telematics data. This improvesover the prior art at least because, in the past, users were unable tounderstand past driving patterns or behavior from large numbers oftelemetry records, where a user was required to not only scroll throughthe large number of records, but also understand patterns in thetelemetry data, which is especially difficult on small screens of modernmobile devices.

Advantages will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in theart from the following description of the preferred embodiments whichhave been shown and described by way of illustration. As will berealized, the present embodiments may be capable of other and differentembodiments, and their details are capable of modification in variousrespects. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regardedas illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The Figures described below depict various aspects of the system andmethods disclosed therein. It should be understood that each Figuredepicts an embodiment of a particular aspect of the disclosed system andmethods, and that each of the Figures is intended to accord with apossible embodiment thereof. Further, wherever possible, the followingdescription refers to the reference numerals included in the followingFigures, in which features depicted in multiple Figures are designatedwith consistent reference numerals.

There are shown in the drawings arrangements which are presentlydiscussed, it being understood, however, that the present embodimentsare not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown,wherein:

FIG. 1A illustrates a telematics cloud platform configured to receivevehicular telematics data from a telematics device onboard a vehicle inaccordance with various embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 1B illustrates a block diagram of the telematics cloud platform andthe telematics device of FIG. 1A in accordance with various embodimentsdisclosed herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a data transmission and implementation diagram of anexample vehicular telematics system for generating interactive animatedguided user interfaces (GUIs) in accordance with various embodimentsdisclosed herein.

FIG. 3A illustrates an interactive animated GUI operable to providescrubbed playback rendering of geospatial graphics in accordance withvarious embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 3B illustrates the interactive animated GUI of FIG. 3A displaying asecond embodiment of the geospatial graphics in accordance with variousembodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 3C illustrates the interactive animated GUI of FIG. 3A renderedwith a three-dimensional (3D) image in accordance with variousembodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 4A illustrates an interactive animated GUI operable to providerapid playback of multiple vehicular trips in accordance with variousembodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 4B illustrates the interactive animated GUI of FIG. 4A renderedwith a 3D image in accordance with various embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates an interactive animated GUI operable to providegeographic heat maps of multiple vehicular trips in accordance withvarious embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary telematics method forgenerating interactive animated GUIs operable to provide scrubbedplayback rendering of geospatial graphics in accordance with variousembodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary vehicular telematicsmethod for generating interactive animated GUIs operable to providerapid playback of multiple vehicular trips in accordance with variousembodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary vehicular telematicsmethod for generating interactive animated GUIs operable to providegeographic heat maps of multiple vehicular trips in accordance withvarious embodiments disclosed herein.

The Figures depict preferred embodiments for purposes of illustrationonly. Alternative embodiments of the systems and methods illustratedherein may be employed without departing from the principles of theinvention described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A represents an embodiment of a vehicular telematics system 100for generating interactive animated guided user interfaces (GUIs), whichincludes infrastructure, including hardware devices, as described forvarious telematics system and methods embodiments herein. In particular,FIG. 1A illustrates a telematics cloud platform 110 configured toreceive vehicular telematics data from one or more telematics devices(e.g., telematics device 106 i and/or mobile device 106 m) onboard avehicle 108. As the term is used herein, “telematics data” may includevehicle specific data and/or vehicle environment related data that isgenerated, collected, monitored, measured, transmitted and/or otherwisemanipulated by one or more telematics devices (e.g., telematics device106 i and/or mobile device 106 m) associated with a vehicle. Thetelematics data may include various metrics that indicate the direction,speed, acceleration, braking, cornering, and/or motion of the vehicle inwhich the data is associated. Such data may be determined from sensors(e.g., sensors 118) on board the vehicle, GPS systems, or other suchdevice described herein. The telematics data may include geographicposition information defining a geographic location of the telematicsdevice associated with a vehicle. Such data may include latitude andlongitude coordinates, for example. The telematics data may furtherinclude time value of the geographic position information, defining aspecific point in time the telematics device was at a given geographiclocation.

Generally, telematics system 100 may include both hardware and softwarecomponents, where software components may execute on the hardwaredevices. Telematics system 100 may communicate via various datacommunication channels for communicating data (e.g., telematics data)between and among the various components. It should be appreciated thattelematics system 100 is merely an example and that alternative oradditional components are envisioned.

As illustrated in FIG. 1A, telematics system 100 may be segmented into aset of front-end components 102 and a set of back-end components 104.The front-end components 102 may include a vehicle 108 which may be, forexample, an automobile, a car, a truck, a tow truck, a snowplow, a boat,a motorcycle, a motorbike, a scooter, a recreational vehicle, or anyother type of vehicle capable of roadway or water travel. Telematicsdevice 106 i may be may be permanently or removably installed onboardvehicle 108, and may generally be an on-board computing device capableof performing various functionalities relating to vehicular telemetricdata generation, collection, and/or transmission. For example, in someembodiments, telematics device 106 i may be an integrated device of thevehicle. Further, telematics device 106 i may be installed by themanufacturer of vehicle 108, or as an aftermarket modification oraddition to vehicle 108. In FIG. 1A, although only one telematics device106 i is depicted, it should be understood that in some embodiments, aplurality of computers telematics devices 106 i (which may be installedat one or more locations within vehicle 108) may be used.

Telematics system 100 may further include mobile device 106 m that maybe associated with vehicle 108, where mobile device 106 m may be anytype of electronic device such as a smartphone, notebook computer,tablet, “phablet,” GPS (Global Positioning System) or GPS-enableddevice, smart watch, smart glasses, smart bracelet, wearable electronic,PDA (personal digital assistants), pager, computing device configuredfor wireless communication, and/or the like. Mobile device 106 m mayimplement one or more mobile operation systems, such as APPLE IOS orGOOGLE ANDROID. Mobile device 106 m may be equipped or configured with aset of sensors, such as a location module (e.g., a GPS chip), an imagesensor, an accelerometer, a clock, a gyroscope, a compass, a yaw ratesensor, a tilt sensor, and/or other sensors.

Mobile device 106 m may belong to or be otherwise associated with auser, where the user may be an owner of vehicle 108 or otherwiseassociated with vehicle 108. For example, in some embodiments, mobiledevice 106 m may be a mobile device of a user, where such mobile deviceperforms any and/or all of a telematics device as described herein. Forexample, the user may rent vehicle 108 for a variable or allotted timeperiod, or the individual may at least partially operate (or be apassenger of) vehicle 108 as part of a ride share. Generally, the usermay at least partially operate vehicle 108 (and may thus be an operatorof the vehicle), or may be a passenger of vehicle 108 (e.g., if vehicle108 is an autonomous vehicle). According to embodiments, a user maycarry or otherwise have possession of mobile device 106 m duringoperation of vehicle 108, regardless of whether the individual is theoperator or passenger of vehicle 108.

In some embodiments, telematics device 106 i may operate in conjunctionwith mobile device 106 m to perform any or all of the functionsdescribed herein, including generating, collecting, and/or transmittingtelematics data as described herein. In other embodiments, telematicsdevice 106 i may perform any or all of the on-board vehicle functionsdescribed herein, in which case mobile device 106 m may not be presentor may not be connected to telematics device 106 i. In still otherembodiments, mobile device 106 m may perform any or all of the onboardfunctions described herein.

Telematics device 106 i and/or mobile device 106 m may communicativelyinterface with one or more on-board sensors 118 that are disposed on orwithin vehicle 108 and that may be utilized to monitor vehicle 108 andthe environment in which vehicle 108 is operating. In particular, theone or more on-board sensors 118 may sense conditions associated withvehicle 108 and/or associated with the environment in which vehicle 108is operating, and may generate telematics data indicative of the sensedconditions. For example, the telematics data may include a locationand/or operation data indicative of operation of vehicle 108. In someconfigurations, at least some of the on-board sensors 118 may be fixedlydisposed at various locations on vehicle 108. Additionally oralternatively, at least some of the on-board sensors 118 may beincorporated within or connected to telematics device 106 i. Stilladditionally or alternatively, in some configurations, at least some ofthe on-board sensors 118 may be included on or within mobile device 106m.

The on-board sensors 118 may communicate respective telematics data totelematics device 106 i and/or to mobile device 106 m, and thetelematics data may be processed using telematics device 106 i and/ormobile device 106 m to determine when vehicle 108 is in operation aswell as determine information regarding operation of vehicle 108. Insome situations, the on-board sensors 118 may communicate respectivetelematics data indicative of the environment in which vehicle 108 isoperating. For example, telematics device 106 i and/or mobile device 106m may additionally be configured to obtain geographic location dataand/or telematics data by communicating with sensors 118. In someembodiments, on-board computer 114 may obtain geographic location datavia communication with a vehicle-integrated global navigation satellitesystem (GNSS), GPS, etc. To provide additional examples, on-boardcomputer 114 may obtain one or more metrics related to the speed,direction, and/or motion of vehicle 108 via any number of suitablesensors (e.g., sensors 118), which can include speedometer sensors,braking sensors, airbag deployment sensors, crash detection sensors,accelerometers, etc.

According to embodiments, the sensors 118 may include one or more of aGPS unit, a radar unit, a LIDAR unit, an ultrasonic sensor, an infraredsensor, some other type of electromagnetic energy sensor, a microphone(e.g., to support detect/listen for audio/sound wave of siren(s)associated with an emergency vehicle), a radio (e.g., to supportwireless emergency alerts or an emergency alert system), an inductancesensor, a camera, an accelerometer, an odometer, a system clock, agyroscope, a compass, a geo-location or geo-positioning unit, a locationtracking sensor, a proximity sensor, a tachometer, a speedometer, and/orthe like. Some of the on-board sensors 118 (e.g., GPS, accelerometer, ortachometer units) may provide telematics data indicative of, forexample, the vehicle's 108 location, speed, position acceleration,direction, responsiveness to controls, movement, etc.

Other sensors 118 may be directed to the interior or passengercompartment of vehicle 108, such as cameras, microphones, pressuresensors, weight sensors, thermometers, or similar sensors to monitor anypassengers, operations of instruments included in vehicle 108,operational behaviors of vehicle 108, and/or conditions within vehicle108. For example, on-board sensors 118 directed to the interior ofvehicle 108 may provide telematics data indicative of, for example,in-cabin temperatures, in-cabin noise levels, data from seat sensors(e.g., indicative of whether or not an individual is using a seat, andthus the number of passengers being transported by vehicle 108), datafrom seat belt sensors, data regarding the operations of user controlleddevices such as windshield wipers, defrosters, traction control, mirroradjustment, interactions with on-board user interfaces, etc.Additionally, the on-board sensors 118 may further detect and monitorthe health of the occupant(s) of vehicle 108 (e.g., blood pressure,heart rate, blood sugar, temperature, etc.).

In various embodiments of telematics system 100, front-end components102 may communicate collected telematics data to back-end components 104(e.g., via a network(s) 120). In particular, at least one of telematicsdevice 106 i or mobile device 106 m may communicate with back-endcomponents 104 via the network(s) 120 to enable back-end components 104to receive and/or store collected telematics data and informationregarding usage of vehicle 108.

The network(s) 120 may include a proprietary network, a secure publicinternet, a virtual private network, and/or some other type of network,such as dedicated access lines, plain ordinary telephone lines,satellite links, cellular data networks, combinations of these and/orother types of networks. The network(s) 120 may utilize one or moreradio frequency communication links to communicatively connect tovehicle 108, e.g., utilize wireless communication link(s) tocommunicatively connect with mobile device 106 m and telematics device106 i. Where the network(s) 120 comprises the Internet or other datapacket network, data communications may take place over the network(s)120 via an Internet or other suitable data packet communicationprotocol. In some arrangements, the network(s) 120 additionally oralternatively includes one or more wired communication links ornetworks.

Back-end components 104 include one or more servers or computingdevices, which may be implemented as a server bank/server farm, or cloudcomputing platform, and is interchangeably referred to herein as a“telematics cloud platform 110.” Telematics cloud platform 110 mayinclude one or more computer processors adapted and configured toexecute various software applications and components of telematicssystem 100, in addition to other software components, as describedherein.

Telematics cloud platform 110 may further include or be communicativelyconnected to one or more data storage devices 132 (e.g., databases),which may be adapted to store telematics data related to the operationof vehicle 108, or GUI value data that is determined from telematicsdata, as described herein. For example, the one or more data storagedevices 132 may be implemented as a data bank or a cloud data storagesystem, at least a portion of which may be locally accessed bytelematics cloud platform 110 using a local access mechanism such as afunction call or database access mechanism (e.g., SQL), and/or at leasta portion of which may be remotely accessed by telematics cloud platform110 using a remote access mechanism such as a communication protocol.Telematics cloud platform 110 may access data stored in the one or moredata storage devices 132 when executing various functions and tasksassociated with the present disclosure, including for example, receivingtelematics data from telematics device 106 i and/or mobile device 106 m,and/or transmitting GUI values to a geospatial animation app asdescribed herein.

Back-end components 104 may further include one or more remoteplatform(s) 112, which may be any system, entity, repository, or thelike, capable of obtaining and storing data that may be indicative ofsituations, circumstances, environment data, three dimensional data,etc. associated with vehicle operation as described herein. AlthoughFIG. 1A depicts the set of remote platform(s) 112 as separate from theone or more data storage devices 132, it should be appreciated that theset of remote platform(s) 112 may be included as part of the one or moredata storage devices 132. In some embodiments, the remote platform(s)112 may store data indicative of vehicle operation regulations. Forexample, the third-party source 112 may store speed limit information,direction of travel information, lane information, map information,route information, and/or similar information. The remote platform(s)112 may also maintain or obtain real-time data indicative of trafficsignals for roadways (e.g., which traffic signals currently have redlights or green lights). It should be appreciated that the one or moredata storage devices or entities 132 may additionally or alternativelystore the data indicative of vehicle operation regulations.

To communicate with telematics cloud platform 110 and other portions ofback-end components 104, front-end components 102 may include acommunication component(s) 135, 136 that are configured to transmitinformation to and receive information from back-end components 104. Thecommunication components 135, 136 may include one or more wirelesstransmitters or transceivers operating at any desired or suitablefrequency or frequencies.

Wireless transmitters or transceivers may operate at differentfrequencies and/or by using different protocols, if desired. In anexample, mobile device 106 m may include a respective communicationcomponent 136 for sending or receiving information to and fromtelematics cloud platform 110 via the network(s) 120, such as over oneor more radio frequency links or wireless communication channels whichsupport a first communication protocol (e.g., GSM, CDMA, LTE, one ormore IEEE 802.11 standards such as Wi-Fi, WiMAX, BLUETOOTH, etc.).Additionally or alternatively, telematics device 106 i may operate inconjunction with an on-board transceiver or transmitter 135 that isdisposed at vehicle 108 (which may, for example, be fixedly attached tovehicle 108) for sending or receiving information to and from telematicscloud platform 110 via the network(s) 120, such as over one or moreradio frequency links or wireless communication channels which supportthe first communication protocol and/or a second communication protocol.

In some embodiments, telematics device 106 i may operate in conjunctionwith mobile device 106 m to utilize the communication component 136 ofmobile device 106 m to deliver telematics data to back-end components104. Similarly, telematics device 106 i may operate in conjunction withmobile device 106 m to utilize the communication component 135 ofvehicle 108 to deliver telematics data to back-end components 104. Insome embodiments, the communication components 135, 136 and theirrespective links may be utilized by telematics device 106 i and/ormobile device 106 m to communicate with back-end components 104.

Accordingly, either one or both of mobile device 106 m or telematicsdevice 106 i may communicate (e.g., send telematics data) via network(s)120 over the link(s). Additionally, in some configurations, mobiledevice 106 m and telematics device 106 i may communicate with oneanother directly over a wireless or wired link. Telematics device 106 iand/or mobile device 106 m disposed at vehicle 108 may communicate viathe network(s) 120 and the communication component(s) 135, 136 by usingone or more suitable wireless communication protocols (e.g., GSM, CDMA,LTE, one or more IEEE 802.11 Standards such as Wi-Fi, WiMAX, BLUETOOTH,etc.).

FIG. 1B illustrates a block diagram of telematics cloud platform 110 anda telematics device 106 (e.g., telematics device 106 i and/or mobiledevice 106 m) of FIG. 1A in accordance with various embodimentsdisclosed herein. In particular, FIG. 1B illustrates a hardware diagramof an example telematics device 106 (such as telematics device 106 iand/or mobile device 106 m as discussed with respect to FIG. 1A) and anexample telematics cloud platform 110 (e.g., telematics cloud platform110 as discussed with respect to FIG. 1A), in which the systems andmethods as discussed herein may be implemented.

As shown in FIG. 1B, telematics device 106 may include a processor 172as well as a memory 178. Memory 178 may store an operating system 179capable of facilitating the functionalities as discussed herein as wellas a set of applications 175 (i.e., machine readable instructions). Forexample, one of the set of applications 175 may be an analysisapplication 190 configured to facilitate several of the functionalitiesas discussed herein. It should be appreciated that one or more otherapplications 192 are envisioned, such as an application for generating,collecting, monitoring, measuring, and/or transmitting telematics datavia telematics device 106 as described herein.

Processor 172 may interface with the memory 178 to execute the operatingsystem 179 and the set of applications 175. According to someembodiments, the memory 178 may also include telematics data 180including data accessed or collected from a set of sensors (e.g.,sensors 118) or directly via a telematics device (e.g., telematicsdevice 106 i and/or mobile device 106 m). The memory 178 may include oneor more forms of volatile and/or non-volatile, fixed and/or removablememory, such as read-only memory (ROM), electronic programmableread-only memory (EPROM), random access memory (RAM), erasableelectronic programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and/or other harddrives, flash memory, MicroSD cards, and others.

Telematics device 106 may further include a communication module 177configured to communicate data via one or more networks 120. Accordingto some embodiments, the communication module 177 may include one ormore transceivers (e.g., WWAN, WLAN, and/or WPAN transceivers)functioning in accordance with IEEE standards, 3GPP standards, or otherstandards, and configured to receive and transmit data via one or moreexternal ports 176. For example, the communication module 177 mayinterface with another device, component, or sensors via the network(s)120 to retrieve sensor data.

In some embodiments, telematics device 106 may include a set of sensors171 such as, for example, a location module (e.g., a GPS chip), an imagesensor, an accelerometer, a clock, a gyroscope, a compass, a yaw ratesensor, a tilt sensor, telematics sensors, and/or other sensors.Telematics device 106 may further include user interface 181 configuredto present information to a user and/or receive inputs from the user. Asshown in FIG. 1A, the user interface 181 may include a display screen182 and I/O components 183 (e.g., ports, capacitive or resistive touchsensitive input panels, keys, buttons, lights, LEDs). According to someembodiments, the user may access telematics device 106 via the userinterface 181 to review information, make selections, and/or performother functions. Additionally, telematics device 106 may include aspeaker 173 configured to output audio data and a microphone 174configured to detect audio.

In some embodiments, telematics device 106 may perform thefunctionalities as discussed herein as part of a “cloud” network (e.g.,via network(s) 120 and telematics cloud platform 110) or may otherwisecommunicate with other hardware devices or software components withinthe cloud to send, retrieve, or otherwise analyze data. In someembodiments, telematics cloud platform 110 may operatee as aSoftware-as-a-Service (SaaS) or Platform-as-a-Service (Paas), providingthe functionality of telematics cloud platform 110 remotely to softwareapps and other components in accordance with the various embodimentsdescribed herein.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, telematics device 106 may communicateand interface with telematics cloud platform 110 via the network(s) 120.Telematics cloud platform 110 may include a processor 159 as well as amemory 156. The memory 156 may store an operating system 157 capable offacilitating the functionalities as discussed herein as well as a set ofcomponents 151 (i.e., machine readable instructions). For example, oneof the set of components 151 may include GUI value compression component152 configured to facilitate several of the functionalities discussedherein. It should be appreciated that one or more other components 153are envisioned.

The processor 159 may interface with the memory 156 to execute theoperating system 157 and the set of applications 151. According to someembodiments, the memory 156 may also include telematics data 158, suchas telematics data received from telematics device 106, and/or otherdata, other data as described herein. The memory 456 may include one ormore forms of volatile and/or non-volatile, fixed and/or removablememory, such as read-only memory (ROM), electronic programmableread-only memory (EPROM), random access memory (RAM), erasableelectronic programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and/or other harddrives, flash memory, MicroSD cards, and others.

Telematics cloud platform 110 may further include a communication module155 configured to communicate data via the one or more networks 120.According to some embodiments, the communication module 155 may includeone or more transceivers (e.g., WWAN, WLAN, and/or WPAN transceivers)functioning in accordance with IEEE standards, 3GPP standards, or otherstandards, and configured to receive and transmit data via one or moreexternal ports 154. For example, the communication module 155 mayreceive, from telematics device 106, a set(s) of sensor data.

Telematics cloud platform 110 may further include user interface 162configured to present information to a user and/or receive inputs fromthe user. As shown in FIG. 1A, the user interface 162 may include adisplay screen 163 and I/O components 464 (e.g., ports, capacitive orresistive touch sensitive input panels, keys, buttons, lights, LEDs).According to some embodiments, the user may access telematics cloudplatform 110 via the user interface 162 to review information, makechanges, input training data, and/or perform other functions.

In some embodiments, telematics cloud platform 110 may perform thefunctionalities as discussed herein as part of a “cloud” network or mayotherwise communicate with other hardware or software components withinthe cloud to send, retrieve, or otherwise analyze data.

In general, a computer program product in accordance with any embodimentmay include a computer usable storage medium (e.g., standard randomaccess memory (RAM), an optical disc, a universal serial bus (USB)drive, or the like) having computer-readable program code embodiedtherein, wherein the computer-readable program code may be adapted to beexecuted by the processors 172, 159 (e.g., working in connection withthe respective operating systems 179, 157) to facilitate the functionsas described herein. In this regard, the program code may be implementedin any desired language, and may be implemented as machine code,assembly code, byte code, interpretable source code or the like (e.g.,via Golang, Python, Scala, C, C++, Java, Actionscript, Objective-C,JavaScript, CSS, XML). In some embodiments, the computer program productmay be part of a cloud network of resources.

FIG. 2 illustrates a data transmission and implementation diagram of anexample vehicular telematics system 200 for generating interactiveanimated GUIs in accordance with various embodiments herein. Telematicssystem 200 may include all, or part, of the computing devices, features,and/or other functionality as described herein for FIGS. 1A and 1B.Accordingly, the disclosure for FIGS. 1A and 1B applies the same orsimilarly for FIG. 2. In particular, telematics system 200 includestelematics device 106 (e.g., telematics device 106 i and/or mobile 106m), telematics cloud platform 110, and remote platform 112, each asdescribed herein with respect to FIGS. 1A and 1B.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, telematics device 106 generates and/orcollects (202) telematics data associated with operation of a vehicle(e.g., vehicle 108) during one or more vehicle trips of a vehicle.Telematics device 106 (e.g., telematics device 106 i and/or mobiledevice 106 m) may collect the telematics data, e.g., via sensors 118,GPS systems, or other systems or components as described herein forFIGS. 1A and 1B. In this way, vehicular telematics data, as describedherein, may define a vehicular trip of a vehicle (e.g., vehicle 108). Invarious embodiments, a plurality of vehicular telematics defining avehicular trip of a vehicle may define a telematics dataset having acertain data size (e.g., several gigabytes or megabytes of data). Thedata size is generally proportional to the number of telematics datarecords collected for the vehicle trip.

In some embodiments, the telematics data, as generated or collected bytelematics device 106, may include thousands, and in some instancesmillions or more, records of data. For example, in certain embodimentsthe telematics data may comprise 15 Hertz (Hz) data, such as telematicsdata that is generated or collected 15 times per second. In suchembodiments, a trip with a duration of 10 minutes would result in thegeneration and/or collection of 9,000 telematics data records.

A telematics data record, as the term is used herein, may refer to aninstance of vehicle or vehicle environment data determined at aparticular time. For example, in various embodiments herein, eachtelematics data record of a plurality of telematics data may include ageographic position of a telematics device (e.g., telematics device 106i and/or mobile device 106 m) and a time value of the geographicposition. In this way, telematics data is able to define a state ofvehicle and/or telematics device at a given point in time. As recorded,a telematics data record may comprise a single row of data as may berepresented in a data table, relational database, or other datastructure. In some embodiments, the telematics data may be associatedwith a particular user. For example, the telematics data may beassociated with a driver or passenger of the vehicle (e.g., vehicle108).

With respect to the embodiment of FIG. 2, telematics device 106transmits (204) the telematics data (e.g., via network(s) 120) totelematics cloud platform 110. Telematics platform 110 receives (e.g.,via its external ports and/or communication modules 155) and processesthe telematics data. Processing telematics data may refer to, but is notlimited to, compressing and/or reducing the telematics data into GUIvalues as descried herein, or performing post-processing analysis, suchas determining start times for trip, positions, times, or other data orinformation as described herein, from the received telematics data. Insome embodiments, processing telematics data may attach metadata to thetelematics data records, or GUI values, where such metadata includesdata generated, determined from, or otherwise resulting from thetelematics data as received from telematics device 106.

In some embodiments, because of the large number of telematics datarecords generally received from telematics device 106, telematicsplatform 110 may receive (e.g., via its external ports and/orcommunication modules 155) and process the telematics data using dataefficient techniques. For example, in some embodiments, telematics data,as received by telematics device 106, is processed by telematics cloudplatform 110 via an asynchronous process. In such embodiments,telematics cloud platform 110 may comprise a plurality of softwarecomponents, including consumer components and producer components. Theconsumer components are implemented to receive and/or store (e.g., inmemory 156 or data storage devices 132) incoming telematics data. Theproducer components are implemented to process the telematics data, forexample, by compressing the telematics data into GUI values, orperforming post-processing analysis as described herein.

In some embodiments, the consumer components and the producer componentsmay implemented via multiple computational threads, in a multi-threadedenvironment of the telematics cloud platform 110. In a multi-threadedenvironment, consumer components and producer components may operate atthe same time so as to increase the throughput and efficiency of theprocessing of the telematics data as described herein.

Other embodiments for receiving and processing telematics data iscontemplated herein, such that the telematics system and methods are notlimited to consumer/producer embodiments. For example, in someembodiments, a single software component may be implemented forreceiving and processing all telematics data. In certain embodiments,for example, telematics data could store telematics data in memory(e.g., in memory 156 or data storage devices 132), where a batchcomponent of the telematics cloud form 110 could select certain amountsof telematics data to process at one time. In this way, such embodimentsresult in batch processing of received telematics data. In suchembodiments, telematics cloud platform 110 may be configured to batchprocess the telematics data at specific time intervals (e.g., everyminute, hour, day, etc.).

In still further embodiments, telematics data may be processed only whena request is received from a client device (e.g., mobile device of user)for the data. For example, a geospatial animation app executing on amobile device, as described herein, may be configured to request datafor a particular time period, which may cause the telematics cloudplatform 110, e.g., via a client component, to process telematics datain real-time in order to respond to the request. It should beappreciated that portions of and/or combinations of any or all of theabove embodiments may be used to process and receive telematics data aspart of the telematics systems and methods as described herein.

Telematics cloud platform 110 may include a GUI value compressioncomponent (e.g., GUI value compression component 152 of FIG. 1B)configured to compress or reduce (206) telematics data received fromtelematics component 106 to a reduced set of GUI values. In someimplementations, GUI value compression component may be configuredcompress telematics data by determining a plurality of GUI positionvalues and a plurality of corresponding GUI time values. In someembodiments, the plurality of GUI position values and the plurality ofcorresponding GUI time values may be based on the geographic positionsand the time values of the vehicular telematics data received fromtelematics device 106. In certain embodiments, at least one GUI positionvalue may correspond to a particular geographic position of thevehicular telematics data as received from telematics device 106. Insuch embodiments, the GUI position value may have the samerepresentative position value as a geographic position of the vehiculartelematics data. In other embodiments, however, the GUI position valuemay have a different position value from any given geographic positionof the vehicular telematics data, where such GUI position value may bedetermined instead from a number of geographic position values of thevehicular telematics data. In such embodiments, the GUI position valuemay be determined from an average, median, or some other statisticalanalysis of the vehicular telematics data.

In various embodiments, each GUI position value may have a correspondingGUI time value, such that there is a one-to-one relationship between aGUI position value and its GUI time value. The GUI position value andthe GUI time value define a graphical representation of the telematicsdevice as displayed on the geographic area map as described herein. Asdescribed in various embodiments herein, the plurality of GUI positionvalues and the plurality of corresponding GUI time values generallyinclude at least (1) a first GUI position value and a first GUI timevalue, and (2) a second GUI position value and a second GUI time value.

The GUI value compression component may implement various algorithms tocompress and/or reduce the telematics data, including, for example, theRamer-Douglas-Peucker (RDP) algorithm, which can determine a reduced setof points from the telematics data. Such compression or reductionalgorithms (e.g., RDP) are implemented by the GUI value compressioncomponent to reduce the data payload of the telematics data, while atthe same time maintain representative information provided by theoriginal telematics data. In accordance with the disclosure of thetelematics systems and methods herein, such compress/reduction providesan immense benefit, and in some cases is necessary, for when telematicsdata must be represented on a computing device with limited processingand/or memory resources, such as a user mobile device (e.g., a smartphone). For example, a vehicle trip of 10 minutes involving thecollection of 15 Hz telematics results in 9,000 telematics data records.The GUI value compression component may be configured to compress orreduce those 9,000 records to 20 records using the RDP or similaralgorithm, therefore allowing processing/memory limited devices toreceive and display (e.g., via geospatial graphics or graphical routesas described herein) a representative visualization of the telematicsdata. It is to be understood that such representative telematics datamay be displayed via mobile and conventional computing devices, such asa laptop or other computing device, e.g., via a web browser, fat-clientprogram, or otherwise, so as to, e.g., reduce complexity of thetelematics data displayed or as reviewed by a user.

In some embodiments, the GUI value compression component operatestogether with a dataset sequencing component (e.g., one of the othercomponents 153 of FIG. 1B) to determine the GUI values. In suchembodiments, telematics cloud platform 110 may further comprise adataset sequencing component implemented at the telematics cloudplatform 110. The dataset sequencing component is configured todetermine a sequence of telematics data subsets from the plurality ofthe vehicular telematics data where each telematics data subset definesa range the plurality of the vehicular telematics data. For example, afirst telematics data subset may be determined by dataset sequencingcomponent that defines a first range of the plurality of the vehiculartelematics data. Similarly, a second telematics data subset may bedetermined by dataset sequencing component that defines a second rangeof the plurality of the vehicular telematics data. In embodiments thatuse dataset sequencing component, the plurality of GUI position valuesand the plurality of corresponding GUI time values are determined basedon the sequence of telematics data subsets. For example, a first GUIposition value of the first GUI time value may be determined from thefirst telematics data subset, and the second GUI position value and thesecond GUI time value may be determined from the first telematics datasubset. Accordingly, in embodiments regarding the dataset sequencingcomponent, dataset sequencing component generally generates a singlevalue (e.g., the first GUI position value) from the geographic positionvalues of the entire range of the first range of the vehiculartelematics data. Additionally, or alternatively, in various embodiments,dataset sequencing component may be used alone or in addition to otheralgorithms or techniques described herein (e.g., theRamer-Douglas-Peucker algorithm).

Generally, data compression and/or reduction algorithms and/ortechniques (e.g., RDP algorithm and/or dataset sequencing componentsubset determining, etc.) as described herein, also perform mapmatching, such that telematics data as received via telematics device106, when compressed and/or reduced to GUI values, is representative ofreal geographic locations. For example, the data compression and/orreduction algorithms and/or techniques compress and/or reduce thetelematics data to GUI values. GUI values may displayed on an electronicor digital map (e.g., geographic area map) representative of a realworld geographic area or location. Such reduction is critical to allowrepresentation of the telematics data on small screen and/or limitedprocessing/memory devices, such as mobile devices. Such implementationcan also increase the efficiency of more resource intensive devices,such as servers providing web pages display geographic area maps, etc.

In various embodiments disclosed herein the GUI values, as determined bythe GUI value compression component of the telematics cloud platform110, may define a second data size. In embodiments where the telematicsdata is reduced or compressed by the GUI value compression component,the second data size may have a reduced size compared to a first datasize, where, for example, the first data size includes raw telematicsdata received by telematics device 106, which may define one or morevehicular trips. The second data size, therefore, may have a muchsmaller data payload (e.g., kilobytes of data) than the first data size(e.g., megabytes or gigabytes of data).

The telematics system 200 of FIG. 2 also includes a geospatial animationapp 201, as described in various embodiments herein. Geospatialanimation app 201 is, in some embodiments, a mobile app implemented on amobile device. In other embodiments, geospatial animation app 201 mayinclude a web app, e.g., implemented via a web browser, or other appimplemented on a client device, which may include a fat-client app.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, geospatial animation app 201 may receive (208)GUI values (e.g., a plurality of GUI position values and a plurality ofcorresponding GUI time values), which may either be pushed fromtelematics cloud platform 110 to geospatial animation app 201 or pulledfrom geospatial animation app 201. For example, GUI values may be pulledupon a client request by geospatial animation app 201. A push basedimplementation may be implemented, for example, where a geospatialanimation app 201 established a connection (e.g., session) withtelematics cloud platform 110, and the GUI values are pushed over achannel, via network(s) 120, to geospatial animation app 201. Such pullor push based implementations may be used to establish playbackrendering and/or scrubbing as described herein.

In various embodiments, telematics cloud platform 110 may implement arepresentative state transfer (RESTful) application programminginterface (API) that exposes the GUI values (e.g., as stored in memory156 and/or database 132) to be pushed and/or pulled via geospatialanimation app 201 as descried herein. For example, in some embodiments,geospatial animation app 201 may access GUI values for any particulartime, position, trip duration, by pulling or requesting GUI values fromthe RESTful API. In other embodiments, geospatial animation app 201 mayaccess GUI values for any particular time, position, trip duration, byreceiving pushed GUI values from the RESTful API, where a connection,channel or session was established between animation app 201 andtelematics cloud platform 110.

In various embodiments, geospatial animation app 201 includes aninteractive animated GUI configured to be implemented on a displaydevice (e.g., mobile device having a display screen). In someembodiments, for example, the display device is a mobile device (e.g.,smart phone) of a user. In other embodiments, the display device mayalso be a screen displaying a website implementing the interactiveanimated GUI via a web browser. Generally, the interactive animated GUIis configured to allow a user to visualize and/or playback a vehicletrip, which may include allowing the user to see dense city (e.g., SanFrancisco) movement, and or visualize telemetry data via geospatialgraphics, graphical routes, other images over time as described herein.It is to be understood the geospatial animation app implements theinteractive animated GUI, and, therefore these terms may be usedinterchangeably herein to describe GUI features and functionality, suchas rendering geospatial graphics, graphical routes, images, orotherwise.

In some embodiments, remote data may be needed for rendering certainfeatures, graphics, or elements via the animated interactive animatedGUI. For example, three dimensional images, environment data, or otherinformation available at remote platforms or third-parties may beneeded. In such embodiments, geospatial animation app 201 may determine(210) whether there are any remote data needs. If such remote data isneeded for a given rendering embodiment, then geospatial animation app201 will request and receive (212) remote data from remote platform(s)112. Such remote data may be used for, or during, rendering ofgeospatial graphics/graphical routes as described herein. For example,the geographic area map, as described in various embodiments herein, maybe provided from a remote platform.

In various embodiments, interactive animated GUI may further beconfigured to render (214) a plurality of geospatial graphics and/orgraphical routes on a geographic area map via the display device.Geospatial graphics and/or graphical routes may be rendered, orgenerated, based on the GUI values received by geospatial animation app.For example, geospatial graphics and/or graphical routes may bedetermined based on geospatial analysis of the GUI values, wherestatistical, spatial, and/or and other analytic techniques are appliedto the GUI position values and GUI time values. Such analysis wouldinclude geospatial animation app 201 generating and mapping geospatialgraphics and/or graphical routes to a geospatial area map such that therepresentation of the GUI values on the geographical area mapcorresponds with a real-world representation of a vehicle's trip in areal-world geographic area.

The plurality of geospatial graphics and/or graphical routes may berendered by geospatial animation app 201 and interactive animated GUIsin a variety of embodiments as described herein. For example, in someembodiments, an interactive GUI may be operable to provide scrubbedplayback rendering of geospatial graphics. In other embodiments, aninteractive animated GUI may be operable to provide rapid playback ofmultiple vehicular trips. In still further embodiments, interactiveanimated guided GUIs may be operable to provide geographic heat maps ofmultiple vehicular trips. In the various embodiments, each geospatialgraphic and/or graphical route may correspond to, or be associated with,the GUI position values and respective GUI time values as received fromtelematics cloud platform 110.

In some embodiments, the geospatial animation app may include ageospatial graphic reduction component that determines a reduced subsetof GUI position values and corresponding GUI time values from theplurality of GUI position values and the plurality of corresponding GUItime values. In such embodiments, the plurality of geospatial graphicsrendered via the interactive animated GUI may be generated based on thereduced subset. For example, some embodiments, the reduced subset may bedetermined to include only non-redundant geospatial graphics. In otherembodiments, the reduced subset may be determined to include onlygeospatial graphics associated with environment data or vehicle statusdata, as described for FIGS. 3A-C, 4A and 4B herein. In still furtherembodiments, the reduced subset may be determined based on a time-lapsealgorithm.

In still further embodiments, interactive animated GUI may be configuredto provide scrubbed playback rendering (216) of geospatial graphics. Insuch embodiments, the interactive animated GUI generally renders theplurality of geospatial graphics in a chronological order. As usedherein, the term scrubbing or scrubbed playback rendering refers afeature that allows re-rendering (e.g., rewind/replay) of graphics orimages (e.g., geospatial graphics). Such scrubbed playback rendering mayrequire the geospatial animation app to retrieve (218) GUI values thatmay be used to generate and/or render the geospatial graphics for theplayback rendering.

FIG. 3A illustrates an interactive animated GUI 303 operable to providescrubbed playback rendering of geospatial graphics 310-314 in accordancewith various embodiments disclosed herein. Interactive animated GUI 303is implemented via geospatial animation app 201. In the embodiment ofFIG. 3A, interactive animated GUI 303 is implemented via display device301, which, in some embodiments, may be a mobile device of a user. Insome embodiments mobile device 301 may be mobile device 106 m thatperforms functionality of telematics device 106 of FIG. 2 as describedherein. It is to be understood, however, that interactive animated GUI303 may also be implemented via other device types, e.g., a laptopimplementing a web-based interactive animated GUI via a web browser,etc.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, interactive animated GUI 303 is configuredto receive a plurality of GUI position values and a plurality ofcorresponding GUI time values, e.g., as described herein for FIGS. 1Aand 1B, and/or FIG. 2. Interactive animated GUI 303 renders a pluralityof geospatial graphics, including geospatial graphics 310-314, on ageographic area map 360 via the display device 301. Each geospatialgraphic 310-314 corresponds to a GUI position value of the plurality ofGUI position values. In addition, each geospatial graphic is rendered ata GUI time value corresponding to the GUI position value. Geographicarea map 360 includes various graphical routes, roads, intersections,etc., including East Avenue 302, North Mines Road 304, and Amber Ridge306. Geospatial graphics, e.g., 310-314, may be rendered on suchgraphical routes, roads, intersections, etc. to represent operation of avehicle (e.g., vehicle 108) on geographic area map 360.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, interactive animated GUI 303 renders theplurality of geospatial graphics, including geospatial graphics 310-314,in a chronological order, e.g., based on the received GUI time values.For example, as illustrated by FIG. 3A, first geospatial graphic 310 isdisplayed on the geographic area map 360 at a first GUI position valueat a first GUI time value. First geospatial graphic 310, as displayed ongeographic area map 360, may represent a first real position and acorresponding first real time value a vehicle (e.g., vehicle 108) waslocated for a corresponding real-world area. Similarly, a secondgeospatial graphic 312 is displayed on the geographic area map 360 at asecond GUI position value at a second GUI time value. Likewise, a thirdgeospatial graphic 314 is displayed on the geographic area map 360 at athird GUI position value at a third GUI time value. Third geospatialgraphic 314 may represent a current GUI position and current GUI timevalue being rendered via interactive animated GUI 303, which mayrepresent the current GUI position and current GUI time value of avehicle (e.g., vehicle 108) traveling on geographic area map 360.

As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 3A, first geospatial graphic310 is rendered to have a first graphical form, and the secondgeospatial graphic 312 is rendered to have a second graphical form. Thefirst graphic form (of first geospatial graphic 310) visually differsfrom the second graphical form (of second geospatial graphic 312) basedon differences of the first GUI position value or the first GUI positiontime value (of first geospatial graphic 310) compared with the secondGUI position value or the second GUI position time value (of secondgeospatial graphic 312). For example, in some embodiments, the firstgraphic form of first geospatial graphic 310 is rendered to visuallydiffer from the second graphical form of first geospatial graphic 312.The visual difference may be based on differences of the first GUIposition value or the first GUI position time value (of first geospatialgraphic 310) compared with the second GUI position value or the secondGUI position time value (of second geospatial graphic 312). In this way,the first graphical form can visually represent a first set of GUIvalues (e.g., the first GUI position value and the first GUI time value,each representative of a first set of vehicular telematics data) and thesecond graphical form can visually represent a second set of GUI values(e.g., the second GUI position value and the second GUI time value, eachrepresentative of a second set of vehicular telematics data).

As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 3A, the interactive animatedGUI renders the first graphical form (of first geospatial graphic 310)and the second graphical form (of second geospatial graphic 312) to havea different graphical form because the first GUI position value and thefirst GUI position time value (of the first geospatial graphic 310) havedivergent values compared with the second GUI position value and thesecond GUI position time value (of the second geospatial graphic 312).In particular, first geospatial graphic 310 represents an earlier GUIposition value of a vehicle at an earlier GUI time value than comparedwith the first geospatial graphical 312. Similarly, third geospatialgraphic 314 may represent a current GUI position and current GUI timevalue that is more recent in time than both of first geospatial graphic310 and second geospatial graphic 312.

Thus, together the plurality of geospatial graphics, includinggeospatial graphics 310-314, rendered and displayed by interactiveanimated GUI 303 in the chronologic order on the geographic area map 360defines an animated graphical representation of a vehicular trip. Theplurality of geospatial graphics, including geospatial graphics 310-314,illustrates a portion of a vehicle trip that includes a vehicle (e.g.,vehicle 108) operating on East Avenue 302 of geographic area map 306.

As further illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 3A, interactiveanimated GUI 303 is operable to provide scrubbed playback rendering ofthe geospatial graphics, including geospatial graphics 310-314, via userinteraction with the geographic area map 360. In such embodiments,scrubbed playback rendering of the geospatial graphics may be initiatedby a user selecting a GUI map position value from the geographic areamap, e.g., a position at or near geospatial graphic 312. In suchembodiments, interactive animated GUI 303 may perform playback renderingof the geospatial graphics 310-314 in the chronological order startingfrom a playback geospatial graphic (e.g., geospatial graphic 312) of theplurality of geospatial graphics. In such embodiments, the playbackgeospatial graphic (e.g., geospatial graphic 312) may have a playbackGUI position value selected from the plurality of GUI position valueswhere the playback GUI position value corresponds to the GUI mapposition value. Playback may start from the playback geospatial graphic(e.g., geospatial graphic 312) and continue in the chronological orderto advance to a current geospatial graphic, e.g. geospatial graphic 314.For example, a user may touch, tap, or swipe the geographic are map 360to invoke playback rendering. In such embodiments, geospatial animationapp 303 can move to certain time (e.g., time 19:45) in a time period(e.g., total time of 1:26:41) to visualize different geographic graphicimages (e.g., geospatial graphics 312 and 314). For example, in someembodiments, a user may scrub playback rendering by selecting a positionon the digital/electronic geographic area map, where the interactiveanimated GUI renders the geospatial graphic/images in the sequentialorder from the time value of the nearest corresponding geographic datastructure to the selected position.

As further illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 3A, interactiveanimated GUI 303 renders a time bar 350 corresponding to all time valuesof each of the GUI time values. A user may scrub playback viainteraction with time bar 350. Time bar 350 may include a pause/playbutton 352 for stopping/starting play back rendering. Time bar 350 mayfurther include time span indicator 354 defining a total time duration358 (e.g., 1:26:41) associated with a vehicle trip and current timeslider 359 indicating a current time 356 (e.g., 19:45) associated with avehicle trip. Time bar 350, via current time slider 359, is operable toscrub playback rendering of the geospatial graphics, includinggeospatial graphics 310-314, on the geographic area map 360.

In some embodiments, scrubbed playback rendering of the geospatialgraphics (e.g., geospatial graphics 310-314) via a user interacting withthe geographic area map 360 causes time bar 350 (e.g., time spanindicator 354 and/or current time slider 359) to be updated to representa current GUI time, as selected by the user, from the plurality ofcorresponding GUI time values.

As further illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 3A, interactiveanimated GUI 303, e.g., via a graphic overlay component of geospatialanimation app 303, may further be configured to annotate geographic areamap 360 with a graphic overlay 316. Graphic overlay 316 may also bereferred to as a “popup” or “screen” herein. Graphic overlay 316includes vehicle status data that may be determined, e.g., via a vehiclestatus analytics component implemented at the telematics cloud platform110. In such embodiments, the vehicle status analytics component isconfigured to determine vehicle status data based on the vehiculartelematics data. Vehicle status data may include any of vehicle speed,hard breaking, g-force, direction of travel, swerving, bump detected,stop detected, wreck detected, etc. For example, g-force information maybe determined from one or more sensors 118 and/or telematics device 106.Graphic overlay 316 may include new information related to datagenerated or determined via post-processing of telematics data. Such newdata may include tips or other information to the user informing theuser how to avoid dangerous conditions (e.g., dangerous driving and/orroad conditions, how to avoid certain routes, etc.).

In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, a vehicle representation (e.g., arepresentation of vehicle 108) at current geospatial graphic 314 istraveling at 45 miles-per-hour, accelerating at a rate of 0.11 gg-force, with no hard breaking detected, in a direction of travel dueeast. The vehicle's current GUI position is 70 (e.g., a relativex-coordinate to the display screen of the display device) and 10 (e.g.,a relative y-coordinate to the display screen of the display device) atthe GUI value time of 19:45, which is also illustrated via time bar 350.

Vehicle status data may be associated with a particular GUI positionvalue. In such embodiments, geospatial animation app 201 is configuredto receive the vehicle status data and associate the vehicle status datawith particular geospatial graphics (e.g., geospatial graphics 310-314)corresponding to the particular GUI position value.

In some embodiments, vehicle status data may be displayed via graphicoverlay 316. In such embodiments, when a user taps or hovers over aparticular geospatial graphic (e.g., geospatial graphic 314) graphicoverlay 316 may be displayed. In other embodiments, vehicle status datais displayed via the graphic overlay 316 at or near the same time whenthe interactive animated GUI renders the particular geospatial graphic(e.g., graphic overlay 316 may be displayed when interactive animatedGUI 303 renders geospatial graphic 314).

FIG. 3B illustrates the interactive animated GUI of FIG. 3A displaying asecond embodiment of the geospatial graphics, including geospatialgraphics 320-322, in accordance with various embodiments disclosedherein. Interactive animated GUI 303 is implemented via geospatialanimation app 201. In the embodiment of FIG. 3B, interactive animatedGUI 303 is implemented via display device 301, which, in someembodiments, may be a mobile device of a user. In some embodimentsmobile device 301 may be mobile device 106 m that performs functionalityof telematics device 106 of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and FIG. 2 as describedherein. It is to be understood, however, that interactive animated GUI303 may also be implemented via other device types, e.g., a laptopimplementing a web-based interactive animated GUI via a web browser,etc.

FIG. 3B includes the same or similar elements as FIG. 3B, including, forexample, time bar 350, geographic area map 360 (and related routes andareas 302, 304, and 306). Accordingly, the disclosure for FIG. 3Aapplies the same or similarly for FIG. 3B.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3B, current time slider 359 is at current time48:23 (356), which may represent a future GUI time value compared to thetime values of geospatial graphics 310-314 of FIG. 3A. At current time48:23, interactive animated GUI 303 displays two geospatial graphics 320and 322. Geospatial graphics 320 and 322 are rendered similarly becausethey have similar GUI position values and similar GUI time value. Inparticular, interactive animated GUI 303 generates the first graphicalform of geospatial graphic 320 and the second graphical form ofgeospatial graphic 322 to have a same or similar graphical form becausethe first GUI position value and the first GUI position time value (ofgeospatial graphic 320) have similar values compared with the second GUIposition value and the second GUI position time value (of geospatialgraphic 322). For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 3B, geospatialgraphics 320 and 322 may represent a vehicle (e.g., vehicle 108) stoppedat an intersection of the geographic area map 360. Because the vehicleis stopped, geospatial graphics 320 and 322 may have the same or similarGUI position values and/or the same or similar GUI time values.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3B, graphic overlay component annotatesgeographic area map 360 with a graphic overlay 326 having environmentdata. Environment data may include weather data, road condition data,traffic data, road data (e.g., speed limit of road), etc. In someembodiments, the environment data may be received from one or moreremote platforms (e.g., remote platform 112). For example, environmentdata may be received from various sources/remote platforms, includingthird party sources such as municipal APIs (e.g., bus/train schedules),private APIs (e.g., GOOGLE maps), and/or public transit data APIs.

In some embodiments, telematics cloud platform 110 is configured toreceive environment data associated with a vehicular trip. Theenvironment data may include an environment position and an environmenttime value of the environment position. In such embodiments, anenvironment data correlation component may be configured to correlatethe environment data with a particular geospatial graphic (e.g.,geospatial graphic 322) of the plurality of geospatial graphics. Theenvironment position and the environment time value of the environmentposition of the environment data corresponds to the GUI position valueand the GUI time value of the particular geospatial graphic (e.g.,geospatial graphic 322) to thereby map, or associate, the environmentdata with the particular geospatial graphic (e.g., geospatial graphic322).

In the embodiment of FIG. 3B, a vehicle (e.g., vehicle 108) representedat current geospatial graphic 322 experiences environment data that, inthe present embodiment, includes partly cloudy weather with fair roadconditions, light traffic (i.e., 25% of maximum recorded traffic for theintersection). The road the representative vehicle is traveling on has aspeed limit of 35 miles per hour. The vehicle's current GUI positionvalue comprises the values of 5 (e.g., a relative x-coordinate to thedisplay screen of the display device) and 35 (e.g., a relativey-coordinate to the display screen of the display device) at the GUIvalue time of 48:23, which is also reflected in time bar 350.

In some embodiments, the environment data is displayed via graphicoverlay 326 when a user taps or hovers over the geospatial graphic 322.In other embodiments, the environment data is displayed via graphicoverlay 326 when interactive animated GUI 303 renders geospatial graphic322.

FIG. 3C illustrates the interactive animated GUI 303 of FIG. 3A renderedwith a three-dimensional (3D) image in accordance with variousembodiments disclosed herein. Interactive animated GUI 303 isimplemented via geospatial animation app 201. In the embodiment of FIG.3C, interactive animated GUI 303 is implemented via display device 301,which, in some embodiments, may be a mobile device of a user. In someembodiments, mobile device 301 may be mobile device 106 m that performsfunctionality of telematics device 106 of FIG. 2 as described herein. Itis to be understood, however, that interactive animated GUI 303 may alsobe implemented via other device types, e.g., a laptop implementing aweb-based interactive animated GUI via a web browser, etc.

FIG. 3C includes the same or similar elements as FIG. 3A, including, forexample, geographic area map 360 (and related routes and areas 302 and306). Accordingly, disclosure for FIG. 3A applies the same or similarlyfor FIG. 3C.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3C, interactive animated GUI 303 renders aplurality of geospatial graphics, including geospatial graphics 330-334.In particular, geospatial graphic 330 may represent the first displayedgeospatial graphic (having a first GUI position value and correspondingfirst GUI time value) of a representative vehicle (e.g., vehicle 108),where the vehicle turns a corner at the time and position represented bygeospatial graphic 332 (e.g., a second GUI position value andcorresponding second GUI time value), and where the vehicle continues ona current route as represented by geospatial graphic 334 (e.g., having athird GUI position value and corresponding third GUI time value).

In the embodiment of FIG. 3C, the plurality of geospatial graphics,including geospatial graphics 330-334, are rendered as a plurality oftwo-dimensional (2D) geospatial graphics. In addition, geospatialanimation app 201 is configured to receive a plurality ofthree-dimensional (3D) images that correspond to the plurality of 2Dgeospatial graphics, including geospatial graphics 330-334. In someembodiments the three-dimensional (3D) images correspond to theplurality of 2D geospatial graphics such that a time value of a 3D imageis the same or similar to the GUI time value of a respective 2Dgeospatial graphic. For example, in some embodiments, interactiveanimated GUI 330 may render, on the display device, the plurality of 3Dimages with the plurality of 2D geospatial graphics during an animatedgraphical representation of one or more of vehicle trips. In this way, auser may visualize a vehicle trip in both 2D and 3D with the 2Dgeospatial graphics rendered alongside the 3D images.

As described, interactive animated GUI 330 may render one or more of the3D images on the display device with the plurality of 2D geospatialgraphics. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 3C, 3D image 340 isrendered that corresponds to 2D geospatial graphic 330. In theparticular example, 3D image 340 shows a 3D representation of theupcoming corner or turn as represented by the path from 2D geospatialgraphic 330 to 2D geospatial graphic 332.

In some embodiments, 3D images may be graphics, such as artisticrenderings of a 3D environment. In other embodiments, the 3D images maybe photo-realistic images, such as images taken of a real-worldenvironment with a camera.

In some embodiments, 3D images are accessed from a remote platform(e.g., remote platform 112). Remote platforms may include, e.g., GOOGLEmaps, etc.

FIG. 4A illustrates an interactive animated GUI 403 operable to providerapid playback of multiple vehicular trips in accordance with variousembodiments disclosed herein. Interactive animated GUI 403 isimplemented via geospatial animation app 201. In the embodiment of FIG.4A, interactive animated GUI 403 is implemented via display device 301,which, in some embodiments, may be a mobile device of a user. In someembodiments mobile device 301 may be mobile device 106 m that performsfunctionality of telematics device 106 of FIGS. 1A, 1B and/or FIG. 2 asdescribed herein. It is to be understood, however, that interactiveanimated GUI 403 may also be implemented via other device types, e.g., alaptop implementing a web-based interactive animated GUI via a webbrowser, etc.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4A, interactive animated GUI 403 renders ageographic area map 360 and graphical routes, including graphical routes411 and 412, based on vehicular telematics data defining a plurality ofvehicle trips of a vehicle (e.g., vehicle 108) that occurred during adefined time period (e.g., a given month). The vehicular telematics datamay define an original, or first, time duration, e.g., a month's worthof data for a given vehicle.

FIG. 4A represents a zoomed-out embodiment of FIG. 3A. Accordingly, thedisclosure for FIG. 3A applies the same or similarly for FIG. 4A. In theembodiment of FIG. 4A, a plurality of vehicle trips is displayed, witheach vehicle trip delineated by geographic stop destinations (e.g.,geographic stop designations 401, 402, 403, and 408). Geographic stopdestinations may be associated with particular cities, areas orotherwise locations. Geographic stop designations may also be designatedwith graphic popups, e.g., with geographic stop designations 401, 402,403, and 408 as illustrated by FIG. 4A. Graphic overlays may be shownfor certain graphic popups. For example, geographic stop destination 401may be a first stop associated with the city of Philadelphia as shown bygraphic overlay 430. Graphical routes may be rendered between geographicstop destinations. For example, graphical routes 411 and 412 arerendered between geographic stop destinations 401 and 402, and 402 and403, respectively. Accordingly, as shown via FIG. 4A, one or morevehicle trips, as defined by graphical routes 411 and 412, maycorrespond to one or more geographic stop destination(s), e.g.,geographic stop destinations 401 and 402, and 402 and 403, respectively.Interactive animated GUI 403 is configured to render one or more graphicpopups on geographic area map 403 at a GUI position value associatedwith the geographic stop destinations.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4A, geospatial animation app 403 is configuredto receive a plurality of GUI position values and a plurality ofcorresponding GUI time values, e.g., as described for FIGS. 1A, 1B,and/or FIG. 2. Interactive animated GUI 403 renders a plurality ofgeospatial graphics, including geospatial graphics of graphical routes411 and 412, on a geographic area map via the display device. Eachgeospatial graphic corresponds to a GUI position value of the pluralityof GUI position values. Each geospatial graphic rendered at a GUI timevalue corresponds to the GUI position value.

In some embodiments of FIG. 4A, interactive animated GUI 403 renders theplurality of geospatial graphics in a chronological order. For example,a first geospatial graphic may be displayed on geographic area map 360at a first GUI position value at a first GUI time value. Similarly, asecond geospatial graphic may be displayed on geographic area map 360 atthe second GUI position value at the second GUI time value. For example,the first geospatial graphic and the second geospatial graphic may bepart of graphical routes 411 and/or 412. In certain embodiments, as forFIG. 3A, the first geospatial graphic may be rendered to have a firstgraphical form and the second geospatial graphic may be rendered to havea second graphical form. The first graphic form may visually differ from(or be visually similar to) the second graphical form based ondifferences (or similarities) of the first GUI position value or thefirst GUI position time value compared with the second GUI positionvalue or the second GUI position time value.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4A, interactive animated GUI 403 renders theplurality of geospatial graphics in a chronologic order on thegeographic area map 360. Such chronological rendering defines ananimated graphical representation of each of the plurality of vehicletrips defined by each of the graphic popups of geographic stopdestinations, including, for example, 401 and 402, and 402 and 403, forgraphical routes 411 and 412, respectively. In several embodiments, theanimated graphical representation displayed over a second time durationthat is generally shorter than the original time duration. For example,if the original, or first time duration, was a month, then the animatedgraphical representation may be reduced to 5 minutes of rendering torepresent a months' worth of vehicle driving during the shorter 5 minuteduration. The reduction from one month to 5 minutes of playback time maybe accomplished by rapidly displaying geospatial graphics and/orreducing or filtering the number of geospatial graphics displayed basedon various techniques described herein (e.g., time-lapsing, etc.). Inany event, in such embodiments, rapid or reduced rendering mayconstitute a rapid playback of a user's driving for a months' time.

For certain embodiments of FIG. 4A, for, geospatial animation app 201may be further configured to display, via interactive animated GUI 403,a trip summary screen (not shown). The trip summary screen may beconfigured to display a graphical representation of each of theplurality of vehicle trips, such as shown by any of FIGS. 3A-3C.Geospatial animation app 201 may be further configured to receive a userselection to display a single graphical representation of the pluralityof vehicle trips, where a graphical representation of each of theplurality of vehicle trips, such as shown by any of FIGS. 3A-3C, isrendered continuously via rapid playback.

FIG. 4B illustrates the interactive animated GUI of FIG. 4A renderedwith a 3D image in accordance with various embodiments disclosed herein.Interactive animated GUI 403 is implemented via geospatial animation app201. In the embodiment of FIG. 4B, interactive animated GUI 403 isimplemented via display device 301, which, in some embodiments, may be amobile device of a user. In some embodiments mobile device 301 may bemobile device 106 m that performs functionality of telematics device 106of FIG. 2 as described herein. It is to be understood, however, thatinteractive animated GUI 403 may also be implemented via other devicetypes, e.g., a laptop implementing a web-based interactive animated GUIvia a web browser, etc.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4B, 3D image 431 is displayed for a currentGUI position value of a current geospatial graphic (not shown) renderedfor the respective current GUI position time value. For example, 3Dimage 431 may be displayed when the current GUI position value is at ornear geographic stop destination 401 (e.g., Philadelphia), such that 3Dimage 431 displays a 3D image of downtown Philadelphia. 3D image 431 isrendered using the same or similar techniques as described for FIG. 3C,such that the disclosure of FIG. 3C applies equally or similarly forFIG. 4B.

In some embodiments, as illustrated by FIG. 4B, a selection of a graphicpopup (e.g., graphic popup of geographic stop destination 401) may causethe interactive animated GUI to render one or more photographs 432associated with the geographic stop destination (e.g., geographic stopdestination 401). Photographs 432 may include photographs that userstook of the particular geographic stop destination (e.g., photographs ofdowntown Philadelphia for geographic stop destination 401).

FIG. 5 illustrates an interactive animated GUI operable to providegeographic heat maps (e.g., geographic heat map 560) of multiplevehicular trips in accordance with various embodiments disclosed herein.In the embodiment of FIG. 5, vehicular telematics data defining aplurality of vehicle trips of a vehicle (e.g., vehicle 108) navigatingactual routes within a certain geographic area may be received attelematics cloud platform 110. Such vehicular telematics data may beused to generate related GUI values as described herein.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, interactive animated GUI 503 is implementedvia display device 301, which, in some embodiments, may be a mobiledevice of a user. Interactive animated GUI 503 is implemented viageospatial animation app 201. In some embodiments mobile device 301 maybe mobile device 106 m that performs functionality of telematics device106 of FIG. 2 as described herein. It is to be understood, however, thatinteractive animated GUI 503 may also be implemented via other devicetypes, e.g., a laptop implementing a web-based interactive animated GUIvia a web browser, etc.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, interactive animated GUI 503 is configuredto receive a plurality of GUI position values and a plurality ofcorresponding GUI time values, e.g., as described for FIGS. 1A, 1B,and/or FIG. 2. Interactive animated GUI 503 is further configured torender a plurality of graphical routes, including graphical routes 502,512, 514, 520, and 530, on a geographic heat map 560 via the displaydevice. In various embodiments, geographic heat map 560 may be ageographic area map, as described for FIGS. 3A-3C and 4A and 4B, butwhere geographic heat map 560 also includes graphical routes thatvisually represent frequency of travel, speed, and/or other vehiculardata as described herein. For example, in some embodiments, each of thegraphical routes (e.g., graphical routes 502, 512, 514, 520, and 530)may be rendered with a weight or a color determined from the pluralityof GUI position values and the plurality of corresponding GUI timevalues. In such embodiments, the weight or the color of each graphicalroute (e.g., any of graphical routes 502, 512, 514, 520, and 530) mayvisually represent a quantity of the plurality of GUI position valuesand the plurality of corresponding GUI time values as associated withthe graphical route. For example, in an embodiment where graphical route502 were associated with a greater quantity of GUI position values andGUI time values than graphical route 520, then graphical route 502 maybe rendered via a heavier weight (e.g., 2 pixel or point thickness)and/or more conspicuous color (e.g., red) compared with graphical route520 (e.g., 1 pixel or point thickness and a white color). Thus, onecolor may represent a greater velocity than another color. Suchrendering provides a visual of graphical routes that are more (or less)traveled, and, when rendered together, comprise a geographic heat map,such as geographic heat map 560 as illustrated in FIG. 5.

For example, in an embodiment of FIG. 5, a first graphical route (e.g.,graphical route 502) may be displayed on geographic heat map 560 thatrepresents a first set of GUI position values and a first set ofcorresponding GUI time values. Similarly, a second graphical route(e.g., graphical route 520) may be displayed on geographic heat map 560that represents a second set of GUI position values and a second set ofcorresponding GUI time values. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the firstgraphical route (e.g., graphical route 502) may be rendered to have afirst weight or a first color, and the second graphical route graphicalroute 520 may be rendered to have a second weight or a second color. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, the first weight or the first color can visuallydiffer from the second weight or the second color. Such difference maybe based on differences of a first quantity of GUI values of the firstset of GUI position values and the first set of corresponding GUI timevalues (e.g., of graphical route 502) compared with a second quantity ofGUI values of the second set of GUI position values and the second setof corresponding GUI time values (e.g., of graphical route 520).

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the act of interactive animated GUI 503rendering the plurality of graphical routes (e.g., graphical routes 502,512, 514, 520, and 530) on the geographic area map of FIG. 5 definesgeographic heat map 560. Such rendering represents of each of theplurality of vehicle trips a vehicle (e.g., vehicle 108) traveled withinthe geographic area represented by geographic heat map 560. In addition,geographic heat map 560 visually represents a frequency of travel of theactual routes within the geographic area.

In some embodiments associated with FIG. 5, the color of a particulargraphical route (e.g., graphical route 502) may represent a velocityassociated with the particular graphical route. For example, thevelocity may be determined from a plurality of corresponding GUI timevalues associated with the particular graphical route. In suchembodiments, analysis of GUI time values, e.g., by geospatial animationapp, may determine that the particular graphical route is associatedwith vehicles (e.g., vehicle 108) traveling at high velocities.

In additional embodiments associated with FIG. 5, geospatial animationapp 201 may include a graphic overlay component (not shown). Graphicoverly component may be configured to annotate the geographic area mapwith route data. Route data may include accident related data and/orother risk factors that can be overlaid geographic heat map 560 tocommunicate different segments of risk. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 5, route data may be displayed in graphic overlay 516. Graphicoverlay 516 includes route data associated with intersection 504 ofgeographic heat map 560. Intersection 504 is an intersection of twographical routes of geographic heat map 560.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the graphic overly component annotates thegraphical routes forming intersection 504 with route data. Route datamay be determined by telematics cloud platform 110 based on the vehicletelematics data and/or by geospatial animation app 201 based on GUIvalues. In some embodiments, route data may be transmitted to geospatialanimation app 201 along with the GUI values. In the embodiment of FIG.5, route data may include accident data associated with the one or moreof the plurality of graphical routes, e.g., such as intersection 504. Inaddition, route data may include risk data associated with the one ormore of the plurality of graphical routes, e.g., such as intersection504. Such risk data may include speeding information regarding speedsthat typically occur along a given graphical route, e.g., graphicalroute 502. In particular, as illustrated via overlay 516, route datapertains to intersection 504. Intersection 504's GUI position valuecomprises 55 (e.g., a relative x-coordinate to the display screen of thedisplay device) and 70 (e.g., a relative y-coordinate to the displayscreen of the display device). The route data of graphic overlay 516includes that intersection 504 experiences an average of 3 vehicularaccidents per week, that 55 percent of all cars perform hard breaking atintersection 504, and that the average speed of vehicles throughintersection 504 is 55 miles-per-hour.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, intersection 504 may be determined as a highrisk intersection and/or graphical route such that intersection 504 isvisually represented on FIG. 5 with a large intersection graphic, whichmay be rendered larger than a lower risk intersection (e.g.,intersection 516). A larger rendering may visually represent a higherrisk intersection or graphical route. Accordingly, one or more of theplurality of graphical routes of geographic heat map 560 may comprise anintersection. The geographic heat map 560 may be annotated to representa risk level associated with the intersection

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary telematics method 600for generating interactive animated GUIs operable to provide scrubbedplayback rendering of geospatial graphics in accordance with variousembodiments disclosed herein. Telematics method 600 begins (600) atblock 602, where a telematics cloud platform (e.g., telematics cloudplatform 110) receives vehicular telematics data from a telematicsdevice (e.g., telematics device 106) onboard a vehicle (e.g., vehicle108). Each record of the vehicular telematics data may include ageographic position of the telematics device (e.g., telematics device106) and a time value of the geographic position. The vehiculartelematics data may define a vehicular trip of a vehicle (e.g., vehicle108). In addition, the vehicular telematics data may define a telematicsdataset having a first data size (e.g., several megabytes of data).

At block 604, the telematics cloud platform (e.g., telematics cloudplatform 110) may determine, via a GUI value compression component, aplurality of GUI position values and a plurality of corresponding GUItime values based on the geographic positions and the time values of thevehicular telematics data. The plurality of GUI position values and theplurality of corresponding GUI time values may define a GUI valuedataset having a second data size that has a reduced size (e.g., severalkilobytes of data) compared to the first data size. In variousembodiments, the plurality of GUI position values and the plurality ofcorresponding GUI time values include at least (1) a first GUI positionvalue and a first GUI time value, and (2) a second GUI position valueand a second GUI time value.

At block 606, a geospatial animation app (e.g., geospatial animation app201) implementing an interactive animated GUI on a display devicereceives the plurality of GUI position values and the plurality ofcorresponding GUI time values from the telematics cloud platform (e.g.,telematics cloud platform 110).

At block 608, the geospatial animation app (e.g., geospatial animationapp 201) implementing the interactive animated GUI renders a pluralityof geospatial graphics (e.g., geospatial graphics 310-314 of FIG. 3A,geospatial graphics 320-322 of FIG. 3B, graphical routes of FIGS. 4A and4B, etc.) on a geographic area map (e.g., geographic area map 360) viathe display device. As described herein, each geospatial graphic maycorrespond to a GUI position value of the plurality of GUI positionvalues, and each geospatial graphic rendered at a GUI time valuecorresponding to the GUI position value.

In additional various embodiments, the interactive animated GUI (e.g.,interactive animated GUI 303 or 403) may render the plurality ofgeospatial graphics (e.g., geospatial graphics 310-314 of FIG. 3A,geospatial graphics 320-322 of FIG. 3B, etc.) in a chronological order.In such embodiments, a first geospatial graphic (e.g., geospatialgraphic 310) may be displayed on the geographic area map (e.g.,geographic area map 360) at the first GUI position value at the firstGUI time value. Similarly, in such embodiments, a second geospatialgraphic (e.g., geospatial graphic 312) may be displayed on thegeographic area map at the second GUI position value at the second GUItime value. In still further embodiments, the first geospatial graphic(e.g., geospatial graphic 310) may be rendered to have a first graphicalform, and the second geospatial graphic rendered to have a secondgraphical form (e.g., geospatial graphic 312). The first graphic formmay be rendered via the interactive animated GUI (e.g., interactiveanimated GUI 303 or 403) to be visually different from (or similar to)the second graphical form based on differences (or similarities) of thefirst GUI position value or the first GUI position time value comparedwith the second GUI position value or the second GUI position timevalue.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the interactive animated GUI rendering theplurality of geospatial graphics in the chronologic order on thegeographic area map (e.g., geographic area map 360) defines an animatedgraphical representation of the vehicular trip.

Still further, in the embodiment of FIG. 6, interactive animated GUI isoperable to provide scrubbed playback rendering of the geospatialgraphics (e.g., geospatial graphics 310-314 of FIG. 3A, geospatialgraphics 320-322 of FIG. 3B, graphical routes of FIGS. 4A and 4B, etc.)via user interaction with the geographic area map (e.g., geographic areamap 360).

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary vehicular telematicsmethod 700 for generating interactive animated GUIs operable to providerapid playback of multiple vehicular trips in accordance with variousembodiments disclosed herein. At block 702 a telematics cloud platform(e.g., telematics cloud platform 110) receives vehicular telematics datafrom a telematics device (e.g., telematics device 106) onboard avehicle. Each record of the vehicular telematics data may include ageographic position of the telematics device and a time value of thegeographic position. The vehicular telematics data may also define aplurality of vehicle trips of a vehicle (e.g., vehicle 108) thatoccurred during a defined time period (e.g., a month) for a first timeduration (e.g., a month's time duration). In addition, the vehiculartelematics data may define a telematics dataset having a first data size(e.g., several megabytes of data). In some embodiments, the defined timeperiod is a configurable time period. And, in certain embodiments, theconfigurable time period may be configured or changed to a second timeduration (e.g., shorter time duration), which causes rapid playback ofgeospatial graphics as described.

At block 704, a GUI value compression component implemented at thetelematics cloud platform (e.g., telematics cloud platform 110) maydetermine a plurality of GUI position values and a plurality ofcorresponding GUI time values based on the geographic positions and thetime values of the vehicular telematics data. The plurality of GUIposition values and the plurality of corresponding GUI time values maydefine a GUI value dataset having a second data size having a reducedsize (e.g., several kilobytes of data) compared to the first data size.In some embodiments, the plurality of GUI position values and theplurality of corresponding GUI time values may include at least (1) afirst GUI position value and a first GUI time value, and (2) a secondGUI position value and a second GUI time value.

At block 706 a geospatial animation app (e.g., geospatial animation app201) implementing an interactive animated GUI on a display devicereceives the plurality of GUI position values and the plurality ofcorresponding GUI time values.

At block 708 the geospatial animation app (e.g., geospatial animationapp 201) implementing the interactive animated GUI renders a pluralityof geospatial graphics (e.g., geospatial graphics 310-314 of FIG. 3A,geospatial graphics 320-322 of FIG. 3B, graphical routes of FIGS. 4A and4B, etc.) on a geographic area map (e.g., geographic area map 360) viathe display device. Each geospatial graphic corresponds to a GUIposition value of the plurality of GUI position values, and eachgeospatial graphic rendered at a GUI time value corresponding to the GUIposition value.

In some embodiments, the interactive animated GUI (e.g., interactiveanimated GUI 303 or 403) renders the plurality of geospatial graphics(e.g., geospatial graphics 310-314 of FIG. 3A, geospatial graphics320-322 of FIG. 3B, graphical routes of FIGS. 4A and 4B, etc.) in achronological order. In such embodiments, a first geospatial graphic(e.g., geospatial graphic 320) may be displayed on the geographic areamap at the first GUI position value at the first GUI time value.Similarly, a second geospatial graphic (e.g., geospatial graphic 322)may be displayed on the geographic area map at the second GUI positionvalue at the second GUI time value. In such embodiments, the firstgeospatial graphic (e.g., geospatial graphic 320) may be rendered tohave a first graphical form, and the second geospatial graphic (e.g.,geospatial graphic 322) may be rendered to have a second graphical form.The first graphic form may be rendered via the interactive animated GUI(e.g., interactive animated GUI 303 or 403) to visually differ from (orbe similar to) the second graphical form based on differences (orsimilarities) of the first GUI position value or the first GUI positiontime value compared with the second GUI position value or the second GUIposition time value.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the interactive animated GUI rendering theplurality of geospatial graphics in the chronologic order on thegeographic area map (e.g., geographic area map 360) defines an animatedgraphical representation of each of the plurality of vehicle trips. Theanimated graphical representation may be displayed over a second timeduration having time duration shorter than the first time duration. Forexample, if the first time duration is a month of time, then the secondduration may be 5 minutes (or some other shorter unit) of time.Therefore the interactive animated GUI may render GUI values,representative of telematics data, at rates or using techniques thatgreatly increase the efficiency of reviewing vehicular telematics data.

In some embodiments, for example, the plurality of geospatial graphicsmay be rendered at an accelerated rate compared with a real-time rate.The real-time rate may be determined, for example, from the plurality ofcorresponding GUI time values, where the GUI time values are determinedfrom the real-time values of the vehicular telematics data structures asdescribed herein. In additional embodiments, the accelerated rate may bedetermined based on a selected duration defining the second timeduration. For example, the selected duration may be user selectedduration. When the selected duration is determined, the geospatialanimation app 201 may compress rendering time, e.g., compress 30 minutesof real-time vehicle telematics data into 5 minutes of rendering timefor geospatial graphics using any one or more of the techniques asdescribed herein. In such embodiments, the user may select a lower bound(e.g., not less than one second), for example, to retain a fidelitylevel of the original vehicle trip.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary vehicular telematicsmethod 800 for generating interactive animated GUIs operable to providegeographic heat maps (e.g., geographic heat map 560) of multiplevehicular trips in accordance with various embodiments disclosed herein.At block 802 a telematics cloud platform (e.g., telematics cloudplatform 110) receives vehicular telematics data from a telematicsdevice (e.g., telematics device 106) onboard a vehicle (e.g., vehicle108). Each record of the vehicular telematics data may include ageographic position of the telematics device (e.g., telematics device106) and a time value of the geographic position. In the embodiment ofFIG. 8, the vehicular telematics data may define a plurality of vehicletrips of a vehicle (e.g., vehicle 108) navigating actual routes within acertain geographic area. In addition, the vehicular telematics data maydefine a telematics dataset having a first data size (e.g., severalmegabytes of data).

At block 804 a GUI value compression component implemented at thetelematics cloud platform determines a plurality of GUI position valuesand a plurality of corresponding GUI time values based on the geographicpositions and the time values of the vehicular telematics data. Theplurality of GUI position values and the plurality of corresponding GUItime values may define a GUI value dataset having a second data sizehaving a reduced size (e.g., several kilobytes of data) compared to thefirst data size. In some embodiments, the plurality of GUI positionvalues and the plurality of corresponding GUI time values include atleast (1) a first set of GUI position values and a first set ofcorresponding GUI time values, and (2) a second set of GUI positionvalues and a second set of corresponding GUI time values.

At block 806 a geospatial animation app (e.g., geospatial animation app201), implementing an interactive animated GUI (e.g., interactiveanimated GUI 503) on a display device, receives plurality of GUIposition values and the plurality of corresponding GUI time values.

At block 808, the geospatial animation app (e.g., geospatial animationapp 201) implementing the interactive animated GUI (e.g., interactiveanimated GUI 503) renders a plurality of graphical routes (e.g.,graphical routes 502, 512, 514, 520, and 530) on a geographic area map(e.g., geographic heat map 560) via the display device. Each of thegraphical routes (e.g., graphical routes 502, 512, 514, 520, and 530)are rendered with a weight or a color determined from the plurality ofGUI position values and the plurality of corresponding GUI time values.The weight or the color of each graphical route is rendered to visuallyrepresent a quantity of the plurality of GUI position values and theplurality of corresponding GUI time values as associated with thegraphical route. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 8, and withreference to FIG. 5, a first graphical route (e.g., graphical route 502)may be displayed on the geographic area map representative of the firstset of GUI position values and the first set of corresponding GUI timevalues. In addition, a second graphical route (e.g., graphical route520) may be displayed on the geographic area map representative of thesecond set of GUI position values and the second set of correspondingGUI time values. In such embodiments, the first graphical route (e.g.,graphical route 502) may be rendered to have a first weight or a firstcolor, and the second graphical route (e.g., graphical route 520) may berendered to have a second weight or a second color. The first weight orthe first color may be rendered to visually differ from (or to bevisually similar to) the second weight or the second color based ondifferences of (or similarities to) a first quantity of GUI values ofthe first set of GUI position values and the first set of correspondingGUI time values (e.g., of graphical route 502) compared with a secondquantity of GUI values of the second set of GUI position values and thesecond set of corresponding GUI time values (e.g., graphical route 520).

In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the interactive animated GUI (e.g.,interactive animated GUI 503) rendering the plurality of graphicalroutes on the geographic area map defines a geographic heat map (e.g.,geographic heat map 560) representation of each of the plurality ofvehicle trips. In this way, the geographic heat map representationvisually represents a frequency of travel (e.g., via the annotatedgraphical routes 502, 512, 514, 520, and 530 having various colorsand/or weights) of the actual routes within the geographic area.

Additional Considerations

With the foregoing, a user of the above telematics systems and methodswho is a insurance customer or user may opt-in to rewards, insurancediscount, or other type of program. After the insurance customerprovides their permission or affirmative consent, an insurance providertelematics application and/or remote server may collect telematicsand/or other data (including image or audio data) associated withinsured assets, including before, during, and/or after aninsurance-related event or vehicle accident, such as any event, etc., asmay be determined from the vehicular telematics data, GUI values,environment data, vehicle status data, or other information or data asdescribed herein. In return, risk averse drivers, and/or vehicle ownersmay receive discounts or insurance cost savings related to auto, home,life, and other types of insurance from the insurance provider.

In one aspect, telematics data, and/or other data, including the typesof data discussed elsewhere herein, may be collected or received by aninsured's mobile device or smart vehicle, a Telematics Applicationrunning thereon, and/or an insurance provider remote server, such as viadirect or indirect wireless communication or data transmission from aTelematics Application (“App”) running on the insured's mobile device orsmart vehicle, after the insured or customer affirmatively consents orotherwise opts-in to an insurance discount, reward, or other program.The insurance provider may then analyze the data received with thecustomer's permission to provide benefits to the customer. As a result,risk averse customers may receive insurance discounts or other insurancecost savings based upon data that reflects low risk driving behaviorand/or technology that mitigates or prevents risk to (i) insured assets,such as vehicles or even homes, and/or (ii) vehicle operators orpassengers.

Additional aspects include an a telematics cloud platform receivingtelematics data and/or geographic location data from a large number ofmobile computing devices (e.g., 100 or more), and issuing alerts tothose mobile computing devices in which the alerts are relevant inaccordance with the various techniques described herein.

Although the disclosure herein sets forth a detailed description ofnumerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legalscope of the description is defined by the words of the claims set forthat the end of this patent and equivalents. The detailed description isto be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possibleembodiment since describing every possible embodiment would beimpractical. Numerous alternative embodiments may be implemented, usingeither current technology or technology developed after the filing dateof this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims.

The following additional considerations apply to the foregoingdiscussion. Throughout this specification, plural instances mayimplement components, operations, or structures described as a singleinstance. Although individual operations of one or more methods areillustrated and described as separate operations, one or more of theindividual operations may be performed concurrently, and nothingrequires that the operations be performed in the order illustrated.Structures and functionality presented as separate components in exampleconfigurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component.Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single componentmay be implemented as separate components. These and other variations,modifications, additions, and improvements fall within the scope of thesubject matter herein.

Additionally, certain embodiments are described herein as includinglogic or a number of routines, subroutines, applications, orinstructions. These may constitute either software (e.g., code embodiedon a machine-readable medium or in a transmission signal) or hardware.In hardware, the routines, etc., are tangible units capable ofperforming certain operations and may be configured or arranged in acertain manner. In example embodiments, one or more computer systems(e.g., a standalone, client or server computer system) or one or morehardware modules of a computer system (e.g., a processor or a group ofprocessors) may be configured by software (e.g., an application orapplication portion) as a hardware module that operates to performcertain operations as described herein.

In various embodiments, a hardware module may be implementedmechanically or electronically. For example, a hardware module maycomprise dedicated circuitry or logic that is permanently configured(e.g., as a special-purpose processor, such as a field programmable gatearray (FPGA) or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) toperform certain operations. A hardware module may also compriseprogrammable logic or circuitry (e.g., as encompassed within ageneral-purpose processor or other programmable processor) that istemporarily configured by software to perform certain operations. Itwill be appreciated that the decision to implement a hardware modulemechanically, in dedicated and permanently configured circuitry, or intemporarily configured circuitry (e.g., configured by software) may bedriven by cost and time considerations.

Accordingly, the term “hardware module” should be understood toencompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that is physicallyconstructed, permanently configured (e.g., hardwired), or temporarilyconfigured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a certain manner or toperform certain operations described herein. Considering embodiments inwhich hardware modules are temporarily configured (e.g., programmed),each of the hardware modules need not be configured or instantiated atany one instance in time. For example, where the hardware modulescomprise a general-purpose processor configured using software, thegeneral-purpose processor may be configured as respective differenthardware modules at different times. Software may accordingly configurea processor, for example, to constitute a particular hardware module atone instance of time and to constitute a different hardware module at adifferent instance of time.

Hardware modules may provide information to, and receive informationfrom, other hardware modules. Accordingly, the described hardwaremodules may be regarded as being communicatively coupled. Where multipleof such hardware modules exist contemporaneously, communications may beachieved through signal transmission (e.g., over appropriate circuitsand buses) that connect the hardware modules. In embodiments in whichmultiple hardware modules are configured or instantiated at differenttimes, communications between such hardware modules may be achieved, forexample, through the storage and retrieval of information in memorystructures to which the multiple hardware modules have access. Forexample, one hardware module may perform an operation and store theoutput of that operation in a memory device to which it iscommunicatively coupled. A further hardware module may then, at a latertime, access the memory device to retrieve and process the storedoutput. Hardware modules may also initiate communications with input oroutput devices, and may operate on a resource (e.g., a collection ofinformation).

The various operations of example methods described herein may beperformed, at least partially, by one or more processors that aretemporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configured toperform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanentlyconfigured, such processors may constitute processor-implemented modulesthat operate to perform one or more operations or functions. The modulesreferred to herein may, in some example embodiments, compriseprocessor-implemented modules.

Similarly, the methods or routines described herein may be at leastpartially processor-implemented. For example, at least some of theoperations of a method may be performed by one or more processors orprocessor-implemented hardware modules. The performance of certain ofthe operations may be distributed among the one or more processors, notonly residing within a single machine, but deployed across a number ofmachines. In some example embodiments, the processor or processors maybe located in a single location, while in other embodiments theprocessors may be distributed across a number of locations.

The performance of certain of the operations may be distributed amongthe one or more processors, not only residing within a single machine,but deployed across a number of machines. In some example embodiments,the one or more processors or processor-implemented modules may belocated in a single geographic location (e.g., within a homeenvironment, an office environment, or a server farm). In otherembodiments, the one or more processors or processor-implemented modulesmay be distributed across a number of geographic locations.

This detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and doesnot describe every possible embodiment, as describing every possibleembodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. A person of ordinaryskill in the art may implement numerous alternate embodiments, usingeither current technology or technology developed after the filing dateof this application.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a wide variety ofmodifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect tothe above described embodiments without departing from the scope of theinvention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinationsare to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.

The patent claims at the end of this patent application are not intendedto be construed under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless traditionalmeans-plus-function language is expressly recited, such as “means for”or “step for” language being explicitly recited in the claim(s). Thesystems and methods described herein are directed to an improvement tocomputer functionality, and improve the functioning of conventionalcomputers.

1.-20. (canceled)
 21. A computer-implemented method for generating aninteractive map interface, the method comprising: receiving a pluralityof position values and a plurality of time values, the plurality ofposition values and the plurality of time values being associated with aplurality of vehicular trips traveled on a plurality of actual routes;and visually rendering, on a geographic map, a plurality of graphicalroutes representing the plurality of actual routes based at least inpart upon the plurality of position values and the plurality of timevalues, each graphical route of the plurality of graphical routes beingrendered with a frequency indicator representing a frequency of travelfor the vehicle on a corresponding actual route of the plurality ofactual routes; wherein: the plurality of actual route includes a firstactual route and a second actual route; the plurality of graphicalroutes includes a first graphical route representative of the firstactual route and a second graphical route representative of the secondactual route; the visually rendering the plurality of graphical routesincludes: determining a first frequency indicator representing a firstfrequency of travel for the vehicle on the first actual route; visuallyrendering the first graphical route with the first frequency indicator;determining a second frequency indicator representing a second frequencyof travel for the vehicle on the second actual route; and visuallyrendering the second graphical route with the second frequencyindicator; the first frequency indicator and the second frequencyindicator show a difference between the frequencies of travel for thevehicle on the first actual route and the second actual route.
 22. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the frequency indicatorincludes color or weight.
 23. The computer-implemented method of claim21, wherein: the plurality of position values includes a first set ofposition values associated with one or more vehicular trips traveled onthe first actual route; the plurality of position values includes asecond set of position values associated with one or more vehiculartrips traveled on the second actual route; the plurality of time valuesincludes a first set of time values associated with the one or morevehicular trips traveled on the first actual route; the plurality oftime values includes a second set of time values associated with the oneor more vehicular trips traveled on the second actual route; thecomputer-implemented method further comprising: determining the firstfrequency of travel based at least in part upon the first set ofposition values and the first set of time values; and determining thesecond frequency of travel based at least in part upon the second set ofposition values and the second set of time values.
 24. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the first graphicalroute is rendered with a first velocity indicator representing a firstvelocity of travel for the vehicle on the first actual route; the secondgraphical route is rendered with a second velocity indicatorrepresenting a second velocity of travel for the vehicle on the secondactual route; a velocity indicator difference between the first velocityindicator and the second velocity indicator represents a velocitydifference between the velocities of travel for the vehicle on the firstactual route and the second actual route.
 25. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 21, further comprising: annotating the plurality ofgraphical routes with route data.
 26. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 25, wherein route data is rendered as a graphic overlay over thegeographic map.
 27. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, whereinthe route data include: accident data associated with the plurality ofactual routes; or risk data associated with the plurality of actualroutes.
 28. The computer-implemented method of claim 28, wherein theaccident data include a number of accidents for a given time period. 29.The computer-implemented method of claim 28, wherein the risk datainclude a percentage of vehicles that experiences hard breaking.
 30. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 28, wherein the risk data include aspeed value through a given intersection.
 31. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 21, further comprising: identifying one or moreintersections of the plurality of actual routes; and annotating one ormore intersections with intersection data.
 32. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 31, wherein the intersection data include: accident dataassociated with the one or more intersections; or risk data associatedwith the one or more intersections.
 33. The computer-implemented methodof claim 21, wherein the frequency indicator is associated with thequantity of position values or time values associated with each actualroute.
 34. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein theplurality of Position values and the plurality of corresponding timevalues are received from: a mobile device onboard the vehicle; or atelematics device integrated with the vehicle.
 35. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the geographic map isrendered to be scrubbable by a user to playback the plurality ofvehicular trips.
 36. The computer-implemented method of claim 35,further comprising: rendering a timeline on the GUI configured for auser to playback one or more of the plurality of vehicular trips duringa specific time period of driving.
 37. The computer-implemented methodof claim 21, further comprising: rendering an animation representing theplurality of vehicular trips.
 38. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 21, wherein each position value of the plurality of positionvalues corresponds to a time value of the plurality of time values toform a position-time value pair.
 39. A computing system for generatingan interactive map interface, the computing system comprising: one ormore processors; and a memory storing instructions that, upon executionby the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform oneor more processes including: receiving a plurality of position valuesand a plurality of time values, the plurality of position values and theplurality of time values being associated with a plurality of vehiculartrips traveled on a plurality of actual routes; and visually rendering,on a geographic map, a plurality of graphical routes representing theplurality of actual routes based at least in part upon the plurality ofposition values and the plurality of time values, each graphical routeof the plurality of graphical routes being rendered with a frequencyindicator representing a frequency of travel for the vehicle on acorresponding actual route of the plurality of actual routes; wherein:the plurality of actual route includes a first actual route and a secondactual route; the plurality of graphical routes includes a firstgraphical route representative of the first actual route and a secondgraphical route representative of the second actual route; the visuallyrendering the plurality of graphical routes includes: determining afirst frequency indicator representing a first frequency of travel forthe vehicle on the first actual route; visually rendering the firstgraphical route with the first frequency indicator; determining a secondfrequency indicator representing a second frequency of travel for thevehicle on the second actual route; and visually rendering the secondgraphical route with the second frequency indicator; the first frequencyindicator and the second frequency indicator show a difference betweenthe frequencies of travel for the vehicle on the first actual route andthe second actual route.
 40. A non-transitory computer-readable mediumstoring instructions for generating an interactive map interface, theinstructions upon execution by one or more processors of a computingsystem, cause the computing system to perform one or more processesincluding: receiving a plurality of position values and a plurality oftime values, the plurality of position values and the plurality of timevalues being associated with a plurality of vehicular trips traveled ona plurality of actual routes; and visually rendering, on a geographicmap, a plurality of graphical routes representing the plurality ofactual routes based at least in part upon the plurality of positionvalues and the plurality of time values, each graphical route of theplurality of graphical routes being rendered with a frequency indicatorrepresenting a frequency of travel for the vehicle on a correspondingactual route of the plurality of actual routes; wherein: the pluralityof actual route includes a first actual route and a second actual route;the plurality of graphical routes includes a first graphical routerepresentative of the first actual route and a second graphical routerepresentative of the second actual route; the visually rendering theplurality of graphical routes includes: determining a first frequencyindicator representing a first frequency of travel for the vehicle onthe first actual route; visually rendering the first graphical routewith the first frequency indicator; determining a second frequencyindicator representing a second frequency of travel for the vehicle onthe second actual route; and visually rendering the second graphicalroute with the second frequency indicator; the first frequency indicatorand the second frequency indicator show a difference between thefrequencies of travel for the vehicle on the first actual route and thesecond actual route.